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 village in Dorset, England. It was built way back in the 12th century, which means it's over 800 years old! This church is considered a very important historical building. It's listed as a Grade I building, which means it's super special and protected.
Today, St Andrew's Church is looked after by the Churches Conservation Trust. This is an organization that saves old churches that are no longer used for regular services. St Andrew's Church stopped being used for regular worship on June 1, 1972. The Trust officially took over its care on March 26, 1974.
Contents
What Makes St Andrew's Church Special?
This small church is built from flint and stone. It shows off a style called Norman architecture, which was popular in England after the Normans arrived.
Unique Design Features
- Curved East End: The church has a special rounded part at its east end called an "apse."
- Barrel Vault Roof: The roof inside is shaped like a half-cylinder, curving over the space. This "barrel vault" roof was updated in the 16th century, when new windows were also added.
- Strong Oak Door: The main door is made of oak and has many metal studs, making it look very strong and old.
Inside the Church
When you step inside, you'll see walls that were once covered with a white coating called "limewash." The floor is made of flat stone slabs.
- Old Font: There's a font from the 15th century, which is where baptisms took place.
- Oak Furniture: Many of the wooden pieces inside, like the pews (church benches), the pulpit (where sermons are given), and the communion rails, are made of oak from the early 18th century.
- Archbishop's Gift: These beautiful oak fittings were given by William Wake. He became the Archbishop of Canterbury, a very important church leader. He grew up nearby in the village of Shapwick, and his family lived in the area.
- Medieval Gallery: At the west end of the church, there's an old gallery from the late Middle Ages. It has a front made of panels and might have originally been a rood screen, which separated parts of the church.
The Belfry
On top of the roof, there's a small wooden tower called a "belfry." It's covered with weatherboards and looks a bit like a dovecote, which is a house for pigeons.
Saving the Church
By the early 1900s, St Andrew's Church was in bad shape. It was even being used by a local farmer to shelter animals!
- Help from a Society: Luckily, the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings stepped in to help. This group works to save old buildings.
- Funding the Repairs: To pay for the repairs, the Society sold a collection of handwritten papers by the famous writer Thomas Hardy. He was from Dorset and his works are well-known.
- Supervised Work: The repair work was overseen by a person named A. R. Powys. He also managed similar restoration projects at other historic churches, like the Old St Cuthbert's Church, Oborne. Thanks to these efforts, St Andrew's Church was saved for future generations to enjoy.
See also
