St Bridget's Church, Chelvey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St Bridget |
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| General information | |
| Town or city | Chelvey, Brockley, Somerset |
| Country | England |
| Coordinates | 51°24′43″N 2°46′04″W / 51.4119°N 2.7678°W |
| Completed | 12th century |
St. Bridget's Church is a very old church located in Chelvey, a small place in Brockley, Somerset, England. It was built way back in the 12th century, which means it's over 800 years old! This church is so special that English Heritage, a group that protects important historical places, has given it a "Grade I listed building" status. This means it's one of the most important historic buildings in England. The church is named after a famous Irish saint called Brigid of Kildare.
Contents
Exploring St. Bridget's Church
Ancient Features Inside
The church has some really old parts. You can see a south doorway that was built in the Norman style. This style was popular in England after the Normans arrived in 1066. There's also an octagonal, or eight-sided, font. A font is a special basin used for baptisms.
The Knight's Stone
Inside the Tynte chapel, there's a special stone slab made of Purbeck marble. This stone is under the Jacobean altar table. The slab is very old, dating from between 1250 and 1275. It shows the tall figure of a knight from the 13th century. He's wearing a long coat called a surcoat. In one hand, he holds a spear, and in the other, he holds the scabbard of his sword. A scabbard is the cover for a sword. We don't know who this knight was, but his image has been there for centuries!
The Preacher's Hourglass
Near the pulpit, which is where the preacher stands, you can find a replica hourglass. It's filled with sand and sits in an iron frame. Long ago, preachers used hourglasses like this to time their sermons. This helped them make sure their talks weren't too long or too short.
The Churchyard Cross
Outside the church, there's a churchyard cross. It stands about 1.5 meters (about 5 feet) tall. The cross sits on an eight-sided base. At the very top, there's a special box and ball decoration. This decoration was added much later, in 1877.
Saving the Church
In the late 1900s, the church started to have problems. Water was leaking into the building, which damaged the old stonework. It was in need of repair! In 2008, people launched an appeal to raise money. Thanks to their efforts, enough money was collected for important restoration work. This included fixing the stonework, installing new lighting, and even getting a new organ for the church.
See also
- List of Grade I listed buildings in North Somerset
- List of towers in Somerset
- List of ecclesiastical parishes in the Diocese of Bath and Wells
