St Decuman's Church, Watchet facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St Decuman |
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| General information | |
| Town or city | Watchet |
| Country | England |
| Coordinates | 51°10′47″N 3°19′49″W / 51.1796°N 3.3302°W |
| Completed | 15th century |
The Church of St Decuman is an old and important church located in Watchet, a town in Somerset, England. Parts of this church, like the chancel (the area around the altar), were built way back in the 13th century. Most of the church you see today was built in the 15th century. It is considered a very special building and has been given a "Grade I listed building" status. This means it's a building of exceptional historical and architectural interest.
The church is named after Saint Decuman. People believe that Watchet is the place where Saint Decuman died a long time ago.
This church stands on a hill, giving it a great view over the town. It was carefully repaired and updated between 1886 and 1891. This work is known as a "Victorian restoration" because it happened during the Victorian era. A famous architect named James Piers St Aubyn led these changes. More updates were made inside the church in 1896. This is when a special decorative screen behind the altar, called a reredos, was put in. It was made from Caen stone, which is a type of limestone.
Contents
The Wyndham Chapel: A Family's History
Inside the Church of St Decuman, there is a special area called the Wyndham Chapel. This chapel is at the eastern end of the north side of the church. It is dedicated to the Wyndham family, who were very important in the local area. They lived nearby at Orchard Wyndham House and were the "lords of the manor." This means they owned a lot of land and had a lot of influence in the region.
The chapel has several memorials to members of the Wyndham family. One important memorial is for Sir John Wyndham (1558–1645). He played a big part in organizing defenses in the West Country of England. This was to protect against the threat of the Spanish Armada, a large fleet of ships sent by Spain in 1588.
Next to Sir John's memorial, there is one for his parents. There is also a large stone tomb, called a chest tomb, for his grandparents. This tomb has special metal plaques, known as monumental brasses, with their images. This tomb helps separate the chapel from the main part of the church. You can also find other memorials in the chapel. These include statues of two of Sir John's sons, Henry and George, kneeling in prayer.
Notable Burials
Many people have been buried at the Church of St Decuman over the centuries. Some of the notable individuals include:
- John Wyndham (1558–1645)
- Florence Wadham
- John Sydenham (died 1521)
- Sir John Wyndham (died 1572)
- Sheila Mannes-Abbott (1939–2014), an artist
The Churchyard: A Place of History
The area around the church, known as the churchyard, also holds historical items. You can find the remains of a stone cross there. This cross dates back to the 15th century, just like much of the church itself. It is another reminder of the long history of this special place.
More to Explore
- Grade I listed buildings in West Somerset
- List of Somerset towers
- List of ecclesiastical parishes in the Diocese of Bath and Wells
