St Andrew's Church, Arthingworth facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Andrew's Church, Arthingworth |
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| 52°25′32″N 0°53′30″W / 52.42558°N 0.89153°W | |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Website | http://www.faxtongroup.org.uk/standrewschurcharthingworth.htm |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* |
| Designated | 2 November 1954 |
| Administration | |
| Deanery | Brixworth |
| Archdeaconry | Northampton |
| Diocese | Diocese of Peterborough |
| Province | Canterbury |
St Andrew's Church is a very old and important church located in the village of Arthingworth. It's an Anglican Church, which means it belongs to the Church of England. This beautiful building is also the main church for the local area, known as the parish church. It's so special that it's been given a "Grade II*" listing, meaning it's a historically important building that needs to be protected. You can find it on the north side of Braybrooke Road.
A Look Back in Time
When the Domesday Book was created in 1086, it was a huge survey of England. Interestingly, it didn't mention a church or a priest in Arthingworth. This might mean there wasn't a church building here yet, or perhaps just no priest living in the village at that time.
Most of the church building you see today was constructed a very long time ago. It was built between the 12th and 14th centuries. Over the years, some parts of the church were repaired and updated. A big restoration project happened in the 19th century to keep the building in good shape.
Inside St Andrew's Church
The church has several main parts. It includes a central area called the nave, which is where people sit during services. On either side of the nave, there are north and south aisles, which are like walkways. At the front of the church is the chancel, where the altar is located. There is also a tall west tower, which often holds the church bells. You can find a very detailed description of the church's features on the Historic England website.
Keeping Records Safe
Churches often keep important records about the people in their parish. These are called parish registers. For St Andrew's Church, these records go all the way back to 1650! This means they have information about births, marriages, and deaths from over 370 years ago.
Most of these old registers are not kept at the church anymore. Instead, they are stored safely at the Northamptonshire Record Office. This office is a special place where historical documents are preserved. If you wanted to look at these old records, you could find information about the Record Office's location and opening times on their website.
Working Together
Arthingworth is part of a group of churches that work together. This group is called a "united Benefice." It includes St Andrew's Church in Arthingworth, along with churches in East Farndon, Harrington, and Oxendon. Even though they work together as a group, each village still has its own church building. This helps the churches share resources and support each other while keeping their local traditions.
