St Giles' Church, Balderton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Giles' Church, Balderton |
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St Giles' Church, Balderton
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| 53°3′16.11″N 0°46′40.99″W / 53.0544750°N 0.7780528°W | |
| Location | Balderton |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Website | https://bbc-churches.org.uk/ |
| History | |
| Dedication | St Giles |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade I listed |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Balderton |
| Deanery | Newark and Southwell |
| Archdeaconry | Newark |
| Diocese | Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham |
St Giles' Church in Balderton, Nottinghamshire, England, is a very old and important church. It is a Grade I listed building, which means it's recognized for its special history and architecture. This church is part of the Church of England.
Contents
A Look at History
This church has been around for a long time, since the 12th century! That's over 800 years ago. It was given a big update in 1880 to keep it in good shape.
Ancient Doorways
Imagine walking through doorways that are almost 900 years old! St Giles' Church has two special doorways, one facing north and one facing south. They were built around 1140 and are in a style called Romanesque. The north doorway is even more impressive. It has a small statue above it, which might be St Giles, the saint the church is named after. This statue was likely added much later, in the 1800s.
Inside the Church
When you step inside, you'll see more history. The rows of arches, called arcades, on the north side are from the 13th century. The ones on the south side are from the 14th century. The font, where baptisms take place, is shaped like an octagon and dates back to the early 14th century.
One of the most interesting features is the rood screen, which was built around 1475. This is a decorative screen that used to separate the main part of the church from the altar area. You'll also notice the unique designs on the ends of the wooden benches, which are quite rare.
The Tall Spire and Bells
At the west end of the church, there's a tall, impressive spire. Inside this spire are eight bells! These bells can be rung together to create a beautiful sound, known as a peal.
The Church Organ
The church has a wonderful organ that helps lead the music during services.
Organ's Journey
The first organ was put in place in 1912 by a company called Brindley & Foster. Later, in 2010, a new organ was installed by Henry Groves & Son. They were clever and reused some of the pipes from the old organ, adding new ones too.
Modern Features
The best part about the new organ is that its control panel, called the console, can move! It's on a mobile platform, so it can be moved into the main part of the church, called the nave. This makes it easier for everyone to hear and see the organist. You can find out more details about this organ on the Henry Groves & Son website. It's also officially recorded on the National Pipe Organ Register.
More to Explore
- Grade I listed buildings in Nottinghamshire
- Listed buildings in Balderton
