St Benedict's Church, Glastonbury facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Church of St Benedict
Location	Glastonbury, Somerset, England
Built	14th century
Listed Building – Grade I
Official name: Church of St Benedict
Designated	21 June 1950
Reference no.	1057966
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The Church of St Benedict in Glastonbury, Somerset, England, is a very old church with a rich history. It started as a small chapel in the 11th century, during the Norman times. Over the centuries, it has been expanded and changed, especially in the 15th and 19th centuries. Today, it is recognized as a Grade I listed building, which means it's a very important historical structure.

History of St Benedict's Church

Early Beginnings

The very first church on this spot was built around the 11th century. It was first named after Saint Benignus. Later, in the 17th century, its name was changed to honor Saint Benedict.

The church building you see today was mostly built in the late Middle Ages. We don't know the exact year it was finished.

Building and Changes Over Time

A tall tower was added to the church in the mid-15th century. Later, between 1493 and 1524, a person named Abbot Richard Beere added the north aisle and a porch. An aisle is a passage on either side of the main part of the church.

In the 1840s, the beautiful stained glass windows in the church were replaced. Then, in 1862, Benjamin Ferrey added a south chapel. More work was done in the 1880s by J. D. Sedding as part of a "Victorian restoration." This means they fixed up and improved the church during the Victorian era. Most recently, in 2014, the church had a lot of renovation work done to keep it in good condition.

Church Connections

For a long time, St Benedict's Church was connected to the nearby Church of St John the Baptist. Both churches were controlled by Glastonbury Abbey until the time of the Dissolution of the Monasteries. This was when many monasteries in England were closed down.

Now, St Benedict's Church is part of a group of churches called a "benefice." This group includes St John's and St Mary's & All Saints Church in the village of Meare. They all belong to the Diocese of Bath and Wells.

Church Architecture

What the Church Looks Like

The Church of St Benedict is built from a type of stone called Lias stone. It has a main area called a nave with four sections, and aisles on both the north and south sides. It also has a chancel, which is the part of the church near the altar, and a clerestory, which is a row of windows high up on the walls.

The west tower has three levels and is supported by strong buttresses. These are stone supports that help hold up the walls. The top of the tower has a decorative, notched wall called an embattled parapet. Inside the tower, there are six bells. Five of these bells are very old, dating all the way back to 1776!

Inside the Church

When you go inside the church, you can see some interesting features. One of them is a piscina from the 13th century. A piscina is a stone basin with a drain, often used in churches for washing sacred vessels.

See also

• Grade I listed buildings in Mendip
• List of ecclesiastical parishes in the Diocese of Bath and Wells