St Bartholomew's Church, Lyng facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St Bartholomew |
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| General information | |
| Town or city | Lyng |
| Country | England |
| Coordinates | 51°03′19″N 2°57′13″W / 51.0553°N 2.9537°W |
| Completed | 14th century |
The Church of St Bartholomew is an old and important church. It is located in a place called East Lyng, in Somerset, England. This church was built a very long time ago, in the 14th century. It is so special that it has been given a "Grade I listed building" status. This means it is one of the most important historic buildings in the country!
The Church's History
The Church of St Bartholomew is an Anglican church. This means it belongs to the Church of England. It is named after Saint Bartholomew. People believe that monks built this church. These monks had to leave their home at Athelney Abbey. This happened when King Henry VIII of England closed down their abbey in 1539. The church stands on the spot where an older fortress used to be.
Amazing Architecture
The church has a tall, impressive tower. This tower was built around the year 1497. It has three main sections, or "stages." The tower is made from a type of stone called lias. It also has special decorative stones called hamstone dressings.
Tower Details
The tower is supported by strong buttresses. These are stone supports that stick out from the walls. They help the tower stand tall and strong. At the top of the buttresses are decorative points called pinnacles.
The tower has windows for the bells. These are called bell-chamber windows. They have a special design known as Somerset tracery. This is a unique pattern of stone bars. You can also see round, clover-like shapes called quatrefoil grilles.
Mysterious Hunky Punks
Look closely at the stonework on the tower. You might spot some interesting carvings called hunky punks. These are like gargoyles, but they don't usually spout water. They are often carved to look like strange creatures.
On the west side of the tower, there are hunky punks that look like dragons. One of them is a mix of different mythical beasts. It looks like a Basilisk or a Cockatrice, which are legendary reptiles. It also has parts of a Griffin, a creature with the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle. These carvings add a lot of character to the old church!
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
