St George's Church, Orcheston facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St George's Church |
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| Location | Orcheston, Wiltshire, England |
| Built | 13th century |
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Listed Building – Grade II*
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| Official name: Church of St. George | |
| Designated | 4 July 1985 |
| Reference no. | 1024021 |
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St George's Church is a very old church located in Orcheston, a village in Wiltshire, England. It was built a long, long time ago, in the 13th century. Today, it's looked after by the Churches Conservation Trust. This group helps to protect important old churches that are no longer used for regular services.
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A Special Old Building
St George's Church is listed as a Grade II* listed building. This means it's a really important historical building. It has special architectural or historical interest. The "II*" part shows it's particularly significant. It was given this special status on July 4, 1985.
The church stopped being used for regular services on March 1, 1982. It was then officially given to the Churches Conservation Trust on October 30, 1985. They make sure it stays in good condition for everyone to see.
Looking at the Church
The church is built mostly from flint. This is a hard stone often found in the area. It gives the church a unique and rugged look.
Cool Old Doors and Windows
One of the oldest parts is the north door. It's built in the Norman style. This style was popular in England after the Norman Conquest. The door has columns with simple, shell-shaped carvings. These carvings even have fan-shaped leaves!
The windows in the main part of the church, called the nave, and in the chancel (the area near the altar) are also from the 13th century. They show the style of that time, known as Early English architecture.
The Tower and Its Bells
The church has a short tower at the west end. It has a battlement top, which looks like the top of a castle wall. The roof of the tower is shaped like a pyramid and is covered with tiles.
Inside the tower are three bells. These bells were made by John Taylor & Co in Loughborough. They replaced older bells that were damaged by fire. Some records say there might have been four bells originally, including one from around 1400.
The tower is held up by strong diagonal buttresses. These are supports built into the walls.
Inside the Church
When you go inside, you can see the Royal Arms from 1636. This is a symbol of the King or Queen of England.
The font is where baptisms take place. It looks like it's from the 15th century, but it was actually made much later, in 1833. There's also a funerary hatchment from the 1830s. This is a special painting that used to be displayed after someone important died.
Changes Over Time
The church has been looked after and changed over the years.
Making it New Again
In 1833, the church had a big restoration. This means it was repaired and updated. The work was done by an architect named Thomas Henry Wyatt. During this time, the roof of the nave was made higher.
Joining Forces
In 1933, the parish of St George's was joined with St Mary's. St Mary's is the other church in the same village. St Mary's Church is still used for services today.
A Star on TV!
Did you know St George's Church has been on TV? In 1988, it was used as a filming location for a BBC television series. The show was called First Born. The actor Charles Dance even rang the church's bells for the show!
See also
