St George's Church, Beckington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St George, Beckington |
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 Church of St George, Beckington
Location in Somerset
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| 51°15′49″N 2°17′08″W / 51.2635°N 2.2855°W | |
| Location | Beckington |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Evangelical Anglicanism |
| History | |
| Status | Active |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Parish church |
| Heritage designation | Grade I listed |
| Completed | 14th century |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Beckington with Standerwick |
| Archdeaconry | Wells |
| Diocese | Bath and Wells |
The Church of St George is a special old church in Beckington, a village in Somerset, England. It belongs to the Church of England. This church was built a very long time ago, in the 14th century. It also has parts that are even older, from the Norman period. It's so important that it's been given a "Grade I listed building" status. This means it's a really significant historical place.
A Look Back in Time
Even though we know the first official church leader, called a rector, was Matrin de Sutton in 1411, the church itself is much older. It was first built during the Norman period. Some people even think there might have been a Saxon church here before that. The tall, four-part tower of the church still looks mostly the same as it did in Norman times. It has special supports called buttresses that stick out diagonally.
Over the years, the church has had many changes. In the early 1600s, it got a new screen and a communion table. These were made in a style called Jacobean. A special memorial was also added for the poet Samuel Daniel. He passed away in the village in 1619.
More important changes happened in the 1700s. In 1754, the main part of the church, called the nave, got a new roof. Two years later, in 1756, two new bells were put in the tower. These bells were made by Thomas Bilbie, who came from a famous family of bell makers. Later, in 1906, the church tower was repaired. As part of this work, the original six bells were melted down and reshaped. Two more bells were also added, making a total of eight.
The churchyard around the church has many graves. One of these is a special war grave for a soldier from the Royal Artillery. He died during World War II. This grave is looked after by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
The Church Today
Today, the Church of St George is an active parish church. It is part of a group of churches called a benefice. This group includes churches in Beckington with Standerwick, Berkley, Lullington, Orchardleigh, and Rodden. These churches are all part of the larger Wells area.
See also
- List of Grade I listed buildings in Mendip
- List of towers in Somerset
- List of ecclesiastical parishes in the Diocese of Bath and Wells
