St Bartholomew's Church, Crewkerne facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St Bartholomew |
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| Location | Crewkerne, Somerset, England |
| Built | 15th century |
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Listed Building – Grade I
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| Official name: Church of St Bartholomew | |
| Designated | 12 June 1950 |
| Reference no. | 390324 |
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The Church of St Bartholomew in Crewkerne, Somerset, England, is a very old church. It was built in the 15th century and is considered a Grade I listed building. This means it is a very important historical building.
The church stands on a hill west of the town. It is a great example of an old building style called the Perpendicular style. You can see this style in its west front, the main hall (called the nave), and its large windows. The church is made from golden-coloured Hamstone, which comes from a quarry nearby. Inside, you can find some cool carvings of 'green men'.
Contents
A Look at the Church's History
The first church here was built by the Anglo-Saxons before the year 900. It was a "minster," which was a main church for a large royal area. After the Norman Conquest, a bigger stone church was built. It had a central tower and was shaped like a cross.
How the Church Changed Over Time
Most of the church you see today was rebuilt and made larger in the late 1400s and early 1500s. Not many big changes have happened since the 1530s. However, the inside of the church has been changed many times. These changes helped it fit different ways of worship for the Church of England. For example, there was even an oven used for baking communion bread!
The English Civil War and Beyond
During the English Civil War (a big conflict in England), the church was damaged. Most of its beautiful medieval stained glass windows were broken. Later, in 1689, William III of England visited and worshipped here. This was after he arrived in England during an event called the Glorious Revolution.
By the early 1800s, most of the old furniture was gone. Only the old font from the Norman times remained. New benches were added, and galleries (balconies) were built in the west part of the church.
Modern Restorations
The church's interior looks much like it does today because of a big restoration in the late 1800s. This work was done carefully to keep the church's original style. During this time, part of the west gallery was removed. This helped to show off the large west window. The organ was also moved to a different part of the church. The wooden benches you see today are from around 1900 and have nice carvings.
Former Grammar School Building
Right next to the church, there is a building on Abbey Street. This building was built in 1636. It used to be part of Crewkerne Grammar School. The school was founded in 1499 and used this building until 1882. After that, the school moved to a new place called de Combe House. Today, this old building is the church hall and parish office.
See also
- List of Grade I listed buildings in South Somerset
- List of towers in Somerset
- List of ecclesiastical parishes in the Diocese of Bath and Wells
