St Andrew's Church, Stratton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Andrew's Church, Stratton |
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Stratton church
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| Denomination | Church of England |
| History | |
| Dedication | St Andrew |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Bude-Stratton |
| Deanery | Stratton |
| Archdeaconry | Bodmin |
| Diocese | Truro |
| Province | Canterbury |
St Andrew's Church is a very old and special church located in Stratton, near Bude in Cornwall. It sits right on the main road. This church is so important that it's a Grade I listed building. This means it's one of the most historically significant buildings in England! It received this special status on March 5, 1952.
Parts of the church are incredibly ancient. For example, the font, which is a basin used for baptisms, dates all the way back to the 12th century! The north aisle was built in the mid-14th century. The tower, other aisles, and the chancel (the part of the church where the altar is) were added in the 15th century. The church was carefully repaired and updated in 1888 by two architects, St Aubyn and Wadling.
Exploring St Andrew's Church
Let's take a closer look at the different parts of St Andrew's Church. The oldest section you can see is the north aisle, which was built in the mid-1300s. Later, in the 1400s, the south aisle, the chancel, and the tall tower were added.
Building Materials and Style
The north aisle of the church is made from rough, unshaped stones, called rubble stone. The chancel, south aisle, and tower are built from ashlar masonry. This means they use finely cut and shaped stones. The south arcade, which is a row of arches, is made from strong granite.
The church is mostly built in a style called Perpendicular Gothic. This was a popular style of English church architecture from the late 14th to the mid-16th centuries. However, the north arcade has an older style called Decorated Gothic.
Inside the Church
When you step inside, you'll notice that most of the walls are plastered. The roof is very old and might even be the original one! It's an "open waggon" type roof, which means it looks like the inside of a covered wagon, with carved ribs and decorative bosses (carved knobs) where the beams meet.
The font, which is used for baptisms, has a bowl from the 12th century. It sits on a base that was added much later, in the 19th century. The pulpit, where the priest gives sermons, is from the 17th century. It has five sides and stands on a "wineglass" shaped base. It's decorated with panels that look like round-headed arches.
On the south side of the church, there's a staircase that used to lead up to a "rood loft." This was a gallery above the rood screen, which is a decorative screen that separates the nave (where people sit) from the chancel. The current rood screen was put in place in 1901. You can also see some beautiful windows in the north aisle and the tower.
