St Bartholomew's Church, Longnor facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St Bartholomew, Longnor |
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| Location | Longnor, Staffordshire |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| History | |
| Dedication | Saint Bartholomew |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* |
| Designated | 1 February 1967 |
| Completed | c.1781 |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Diocese of Lichfield |
The Church of St Bartholomew is an old Anglican church in the village of Longnor. Longnor is in the north-east part of Staffordshire, England. This church is a special building, listed as Grade II*. This means it is a very important historic building. It was built in the late 1700s.
Contents
History of Longnor Church
Early Beginnings: A Church in the 12th Century?
People believe there was a church in Longnor as early as the 12th century. We know this because the old stone font inside the church today is from that time. The first time a church in Longnor was written about was in 1448. This first church might have stood in what is now the churchyard. This area used to be a big open space for markets and fairs.
Building the Current Church: 1781 and Beyond
The church you see today was built around 1781. The older church building was taken down. The new church was then built a little to the north of the old spot. It is made from carefully cut stone blocks called ashlar. The church has a rectangular main hall, called a nave. It does not have a separate chancel (the area near the altar).
There are five round-topped windows on each side of the church. At the west end, there is a tower. In 1812, the church walls were made taller. This allowed for two new balconies, called galleries. One was on the south side (but was later removed). The other was on the west side. More windows, shaped like the ones below, were added above. You can still see an outside staircase that leads up to the west gallery.
Inside the Church: Changes Over Time
In 1852, a large musical instrument called an organ was put into the south gallery. Later, it was moved to the south side of the chancel area. Between 1948 and 1949, a false ceiling was put in. Because of this, you can only see the upper windows from the outside of the church.
The Ancient Font: A Link to the Past
The font is a very old stone basin used for baptisms. It is the only part of an earlier church that still exists. In 1830, this old font was actually outside in the churchyard! A church official, called an archdeacon, ordered it to be moved inside. Now, it sits at the west end of the nave, under the gallery. The font is shaped like a chalice (a cup). It was carved from a single piece of gritstone. You can see carved designs on it, including a face and shields.
Images for kids
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The Church of St Bartholomew in Longnor.
See also
- Listed buildings in Longnor, Staffordshire
