St Denis' Church, Otterham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Denis’s Church, Otterham |
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St Denis’s Church, Otterham
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| 50°41′13.33″N 4°35′41.54″W / 50.6870361°N 4.5948722°W | |
| Location | Otterham |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Broad church |
| History | |
| Dedication | St Denis |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Otterham (Boscastle and Tintagel Group of Churches) |
| Deanery | Stratton |
| Archdeaconry | Bodmin |
| Diocese | Diocese of Truro |
| Province | Province of Canterbury |
St Denis's Church in Otterham is a very old and important church. It is located in the village of Otterham in Cornwall, England. This church is part of the Church of England and is considered a special historical building. It has a "Grade II*" listing, which means it is a particularly important building of more than special interest.
Contents
History of St Denis's Church
The church is named after Saint Denis. However, we do not have official records explaining why it was given this name. Some old documents from 1613 show that land nearby was called "St Tenye." This might be a clue to the church's dedication.
Building the Church
The first parts of St Denis's Church were built during the Norman period. This was a very long time ago, after the Normans came to England in 1066. The church's tower might have been rebuilt in 1702.
Restoration Work
Between 1889 and 1904, the church underwent some big changes. This process is called "restoration," where old buildings are repaired and updated. During this time, a part of the church called the "north transept" was taken down. Also, much of the old wooden parts inside the church were removed.
Church Community and Parishes
St Denis's Church is part of a larger group of churches. This group is called the Boscastle and Tintagel group of parishes. A "parish" is like a local church area.
Churches in the Group
The churches in this group work together. They include:
- St Symphorian's Church, Forrabury
- St Merteriana's Church, Minster
- St Materiana's Church, Tintagel
- St Michael and All Angel's Church, Lesnewth
- St Julitta's Church, St Juliot
- The Holy Family Church, Treknow
- St Piran's Church, Trethevy
- St Petroc's Church, Trevalga
Church Bells and Music
St Denis's Church has a set of bells that can be rung. Originally, there were 3 bells. Over time, more bells were added, and now there are 6 bells in total. This allows for a full "peal" of bells, which is a special way of ringing them in a sequence.
Musical Instruments
In the past, the church used a musical instrument called a "harmonium." This is a type of keyboard instrument that makes sound using air. Today, the music in the church is played by an electric organ. This organ is located at the front, on the right side of the church.
