St Andrew's Church, Winterborne Tomson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Andrew's Church, Winterborne Tomson |
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St Andrew's Church, Winterborne Tomson, from the south
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| OS grid reference | SY 885 974 |
| Location | Winterborne Tomson, Dorset |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Website | Churches Conservation Trust |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Redundant |
| Heritage designation | Grade I |
| Designated | 14 July 1955 |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Norman |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Flint |
St Andrew's Church is a very old church located in Winterborne Tomson, a small village in Dorset, England. It was built way back in the 12th century, which means the 1100s! This church is considered a special historical building. It's listed as a Grade I building, meaning it's very important. Today, it's looked after by the Churches Conservation Trust. This group helps to save old churches that are no longer used for regular services.
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What Makes St Andrew's Church Special?
This small church is built from flint and stone. It shows off a style called Norman architecture. This was popular in England after the Normans arrived in 1066. The church has a rounded end at the east, called an apse. Its roof is shaped like a half-barrel, curving over the top.
The roof and windows were updated in the 16th century. The main oak door is very strong and has many metal studs. Inside, the walls are painted with a white coating called limewash. The floor is made of flat stone slabs.
Inside the Church
You can find a font from the 15th century inside. A font is a basin used for baptisms. Many of the wooden parts inside are from the early 1700s. These include the oak pews, which are the church benches. There is also a pulpit, where sermons are given.
The communion rails and a matching table are also made of oak. They have cool "barley sugar" twisted legs. These wooden items were given by William Wake. He was a very important church leader, the Archbishop of Canterbury. He grew up nearby and his family lived in the area.
At the west end of the church, there's a gallery from the late Middle Ages. It has a front made of panels. This gallery might have been part of a rood screen originally. A rood screen was a decorated barrier that separated parts of the church.
The Unique Belfry
On top of the roof, there's a small belfry. This is a tower where bells are hung. It's made of weatherboard, which is wood that protects against the weather. This belfry looks a lot like a dovecote, which is a small house for pigeons.
Saving the Church
By the early 1900s, St Andrew's Church was in bad shape. A local farmer was even using it to shelter animals! Luckily, a group called the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings stepped in. They paid for the repairs.
To get the money, they sold a collection of old writings by the famous author Thomas Hardy. The repair work was watched over by a person named A. R. Powys. He also helped with repairs at another old church, the Old St Cuthbert's Church, Oborne.
See also
