St Andrew's Church, Cheddar facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St Andrew |
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| General information | |
| Town or city | Cheddar |
| Country | England |
| Coordinates | 51°16′25″N 2°46′34″W / 51.2737°N 2.7761°W |
| Completed | 14th century |
The Church of St Andrew is a very old church located in Cheddar, a village in Somerset, England. This church was built way back in the 14th century, which means the 1300s! It's so important that it has been named a Grade I listed building. This means it's a special building that needs to be protected because of its history and unique design.
Contents
Exploring St Andrew's Church History
The Church of St Andrew has a long and interesting past. It has been standing for hundreds of years.
Restoration and Old Features
The church got a big makeover in 1873. This was called a Victorian restoration. A famous architect named William Butterfield helped to fix it up. Inside, you can still see some beautiful stained glass windows from the 15th century. These windows have colorful pictures made from many small pieces of glass. There is also an old altar table from 1631. An altar table is a special table used during church services.
Ancient Tombs and Memorials
In the main part of the church, called the chancel, there is a special chest tomb. A chest tomb is like a stone box that holds a person's remains. People believe this tomb belongs to Sir Thomas Cheddar. He was an important person from the past. The tomb is dated 1442, showing how old it is.
The Church Tower and Its Bells
One of the most impressive parts of the church is its tall tower. It reaches about 30 meters (100 feet) into the sky!
The Tower's Age and Bells
The tower itself was built around 1423. Inside, it holds eight large bells. These bells are used for something called change-ringing. This is a special way of ringing bells in a pattern. The largest bell, called the tenor, was made in 1759. It was created by Thomas Bilbie, who came from a family famous for making bells. The very oldest bell in the tower dates back to about 1580.
St Andrew's Role in the Community
The Church of St Andrew is more than just an old building. It plays an important role in the local community.
A Local Parish Church
This church is the official Church of England parish church for Cheddar. A parish church serves the people living in a specific area, or "parish." The person in charge of the church is called the Rector. The current Rector is The Reverend Stuart Burns. He started his role in February 2016.
See also
- List of Grade I listed buildings in Sedgemoor
- List of towers in Somerset
- List of ecclesiastical parishes in the Diocese of Bath and Wells
