St Andrew's Church, Old Cleeve facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St Andrew |
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| General information | |
| Town or city | Old Cleeve |
| Country | England |
| Coordinates | 51°10′06″N 3°22′31″W / 51.1683°N 3.3753°W |
| Completed | 12th century |
The Church of St Andrew is a very old and important church located in Old Cleeve, a village in Somerset, England. It was built a long, long time ago, starting in the 12th century. This means it's over 800 years old! Because it's so old and special, it has been given a Grade I listed building status by English Heritage. This means it's considered one of the most important historic buildings in England.
Contents
A Look Back at the Church's History
The Church of St Andrew has a long and interesting past. Over the centuries, it has been owned by different groups.
Early Beginnings
In the 12th century, a person named Robert FitzGerold gave the church to Bec Abbey. This was a famous Benedictine monastery in Normandy, France. Monasteries were places where monks lived and prayed.
Later in the same century, another person, William de Roumare, gave the church to Wells Cathedral. A cathedral is a very large and important church, usually the main church for a whole area.
Becoming Part of Cleeve Abbey
After being part of Wells Cathedral, the Church of St Andrew became the property of Cleeve Abbey. This was another important monastery, located much closer to Old Cleeve. It stayed with Cleeve Abbey until a time called the dissolution of the monasteries. This was when many monasteries in England were closed down.
Rebuilding and New Additions
The church you see today is not exactly the same as the very first one. A lot of it was rebuilt in 1425. This means parts of the church were taken down and built again, perhaps to make it bigger or stronger.
The tall western tower, which is a big part of the church's look, was added around 1533. Imagine how much work it took to build such a tall stone tower so long ago!
The Unique Porch Floor
One special feature of the Church of St Andrew is its porch floor. The porch is the entrance area of the church. In the 17th century, the floor of this porch was made using smooth, white alabaster stones. These stones came from the beach near the village. They were carefully placed to form the shape of a heart. It's a unique and beautiful detail!
The Church Today
Today, the Church of St Andrew is still an active church. It serves the local community as part of the benefice of Old Cleeve, Leighland, and Treborough. This means it's grouped with other nearby churches for shared services and support. It belongs to the Exmoor deanery, which is a local area within the Diocese of Bath and Wells. A diocese is a larger area managed by a bishop.
See also
- Grade I listed buildings in West Somerset
- List of Somerset towers
- List of ecclesiastical parishes in the Diocese of Bath and Wells
