St Christopher's Church, Lympsham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St Christopher |
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| General information | |
| Town or city | Lympsham |
| Country | England |
| Coordinates | 51°16′58″N 2°57′17″W / 51.2828°N 2.9548°W |
| Completed | 15th century |
The Church of St Christopher is a very old church located in Lympsham, a village in Somerset, England. It was built a long time ago, in the 15th century. This means it's over 500 years old! Because it's so important and special, it has been given a "Grade I listed building" status. This means it's one of the most important historic buildings in England.
Contents
A Look Back in Time
The history of the Church of St Christopher goes back even further than the 15th century. In the year 690, a king named Ine of Wessex gave the land where the church stands to Glastonbury Abbey. An abbey is a type of monastery, where monks or nuns live and worship.
Early Church Leaders
The church remained part of the Abbey's lands for many centuries. We know that in 1274, a person named Bartholomew de England became the church's leader, called a rector. This shows the church has had a long line of rectors looking after it.
Changes Over Time
The church stayed connected to Glastonbury Abbey until 1539. At this time, there was a big change in England called the dissolution of the monasteries. This was when King Henry VIII closed down many monasteries and took their land. After this, the church became independent from the Abbey.
Keeping the Church Strong
Over hundreds of years, buildings need care and repairs. The Church of St Christopher is no different.
Victorian Era Updates
In the 1800s, during the Victorian era, the church had a lot of work done. This was called an "extensive restoration." It means they carefully repaired and updated many parts of the church. A father and son, Rev A. J. Stephenson and J. H. Stephenson, led this big project.
Recent Improvements
More work was done on the church in 1909 to make sure it stayed in good condition. This kind of work helps to preserve old buildings for future generations to enjoy.
Discoveries at the Church
Sometimes, digging around old buildings can reveal hidden treasures from the past.
An Old Coin Found
In 2001, people doing archaeological work at the church made an exciting discovery. They found an old coin made of copper alloy. This coin was from Bath and was made in 1670. Finding such an old coin helps us learn more about the history of the area and the people who lived there.
How the Church is Organized
The Church of St Christopher is part of a larger church system.
Church Community
The church serves the local community, which is called a parish. The Lympsham parish is grouped together with other nearby parishes, Brent Knoll and East Brent. This group is called a benefice.
Local Church Area
These parishes are all part of a larger church area known as the deanery of Axbridge. This system helps to organize and support the churches in the region.
