St Bartholomew's Church, Lower Basildon facts for kids
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St Bartholomew's Church is a very old church in a small village called Lower Basildon in Berkshire, England. It used to be a regular church for the local community. Now, it is looked after by the Churches Conservation Trust. This trust helps to protect important old churches. The church is also a "Grade I listed building." This means it's a very special and important historical building.
Contents
Church Building and History
This church was built a long, long time ago, in the late 1200s. It was made from flint stones and other special stones. The roof is made of old tiles.
Church Tower and Bells
The tall tower on the west side of the church was added much later, in 1734. It is made of grey bricks with some red parts. The tower has three main sections. At the top, there is a part with openings for the sound of the bells. Inside, there are four bells! You can also see a clock on the south side of the tower.
Inside the Church
The church has a main area called the nave where people sit. It also has a chancel, which is the part near the altar. There is a porch on the south side where you enter. On the north side, there is an extra part called an aisle. The porch was added in the 1800s. The roof over the north aisle and chancel was also updated in 1876.
Old Monuments and Features
Inside the chancel, there is a very old stone tomb from the 1300s. It was later used as a monument for Sir Francis Sykes, who passed away in 1804, and his son. The church also has a font from the 1400s. This is a special basin used for baptisms.
Churchyard and Famous Graves
The churchyard, which is the area around the church, is a special place. It is where Jethro Tull is buried. He was a very important farmer in the 1700s. He helped create new ways of farming.
Jethro Tull's Burial Date
Jethro Tull died in 1741. However, his gravestone says he was buried on March 9, 1740. This might seem confusing! It's because of an old way of counting years. Back then, the new year didn't always start on January 1st. This old calendar style is why the dates look different.
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