St Helen's Church, Sibbertoft facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Helen's Church, Sibbertoft |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| 52°26′19″N 0°59′56″W / 52.43865°N 0.99893°W | |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Administration | |
| Deanery | Brixworth |
| Archdeaconry | Northampton |
| Diocese | Diocese of Peterborough |
| Province | Canterbury |
St Helen's Church is a special old church located in the village of Sibbertoft, Northamptonshire. It's a Church of England parish church, which means it serves the local community. This beautiful building is also a Grade II* listed building, showing how important and historic it is. You can find it on the west side of Church Street, at the northern end of the village.
Contents
A Look Back in Time
How Old Is St Helen's Church?
St Helen's Church has a very long history! We think there was a church here as far back as 1086. This is because the Domesday Book mentions a priest living in Sibbertoft at that time. The Domesday Book was a huge survey ordered by William the Conqueror to record everything in England.
Building the Church
The main parts of the church you see today were built a long time ago. Most of it was put together in the 13th and 14th centuries. That's over 700 years ago! The church has a main area called the nave, with aisles on the north and south sides. It also has a chancel, which is the part where the altar is, and a tall tower at the west end.
The walls of the church are made from strong local stones. These include lias and cobble. The roof is covered with slate, which is a type of rock that splits into thin, flat pieces.
Medieval Features
You can still see many parts of the church that are from the 14th century. For example, the arch leading into the chancel is from this time. The arches on the north side of the nave are also very old. Even the inner arch of the church porch and probably the tower itself date back to this period.
There's a small piece of a very old carving above the south chancel door. It used to be part of a rood screen. This screen was a decorative wall that separated the nave from the chancel. The carving looks like twisted branches and fancy leaf shapes called crocketing.
Victorian Changes
Modernizing the Church
Around 1862 and 1863, the church had a big makeover. This was part of a "Victorian restoration" project. It was led by an architect named Edward Browning. During this time, the south aisle and the porch were built.
Many features from this Victorian era are still visible today. These include the arches on the south side of the nave. You can also see a beautiful floor made of decorative tiles. The pulpit, where the priest gives sermons, is supported by seven shiny marble pillars. Even the font, used for baptisms, has marble pillars. The church also gained lovely stained glass windows during this restoration.
Church Treasures
Special Memorials
Inside the church, you can find a marble tablet. It remembers a person named Ambrose Saunders, who passed away in 1765. This tablet is on the west wall of the north aisle.
Outside in the churchyard, there are also some historic memorials. Two large chest tombs and a pair of headstones are also Grade II listed. This means they are important historical structures.
Church Records
The church has kept records of important events since 1680. These old records are now stored safely at the Northamptonshire Record Office.
Working Together
Sibbertoft is part of a group of churches called a "united Benefice." This group also includes the villages of Marston Trussell and Welford. Even though they work together, each village still has its own church building.
