St Helena's Church, Thoroton facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St Helena's Church, Thoroton
Denomination	Church of England
Website	The Cranmer Group
History
Dedication	St. Helena
Administration
Parish	Thoroton
Diocese	Southwell and Nottingham
Province	York

St Helena's Church, Thoroton is a historic Church of England church located in Thoroton, Nottinghamshire, England. It is a very important building, recognized for its amazing architecture. The church is officially listed as Grade I listed, which means it's considered to be of outstanding national importance.

Discovering St Helena's Church History

This church is very old, dating back to the Middle Ages. Some parts of its East end are even from the 11th century! That's over 900 years ago.

Victorian Restoration and Changes

Even though it's ancient, the church got a big makeover between 1868 and 1869. This was part of a "Victorian restoration," which means it was repaired and updated during the Victorian era. An architect named John Henry Hakewill led this work. During the restoration, the "chancel" (the part of the church where the altar is) was rebuilt. The roof was also replaced, and new seats were added for everyone.

Unique Architectural Features

The church's tower was built in the 14th century. It has some cool features like a "corbel table" with carved faces. A corbel table is a row of stone supports sticking out from the wall. You can also spot four "gargoyles," which are carved stone figures that often look like monsters. They were originally designed to spout water away from the building. The tower also has an "octagonal spire," which is a tall, pointed roof with eight sides.

Most of the beautiful stained glass windows in the church were put in during the 1869 restoration. There's also a "vestry," which is a room where priests prepare for services. This vestry has been turned into a small chapel. Inside, you'll find a simple, round "font," which is a basin used for baptisms. Its base is from the 14th century.

Who Was St Helena?

The church is named after St Helena of Constantinople. She was the mother of Constantine, who was the very first Christian Roman Emperor. Legend says that St Helena went on a "pilgrimage" (a special journey for religious reasons) to the Holy Land in the year AD 326. During her trip, she was believed to have found the True Cross, which is the cross Jesus was crucified on.

Past Challenges and Repairs

In the 17th and 18th centuries, St Helena's Church was part of a larger church area called a "chapelry" of Orston. This meant it was a smaller church connected to a main one. Before its big restoration, the church was in poor condition. A visitor named Sir Stephen Glynne saw it in 1866 and noted it needed repairs. The push to restore the church came after it was badly damaged by lightning on April 27, 1868.

Inside the church, there's a special slate tablet that remembers Gulielmi (William) Barrett, who passed away in 1760. There's also a marble tablet from 1919 that honors those who served in the war.

St Helena's Church Today

St Helena's Church is part of a group of churches called the Cranmer Group. This group includes several other churches in nearby villages. Being part of a group helps the churches work together and share resources.

Services at Thoroton

If you want to visit for a service, St Helena's Church in Thoroton usually has a service at 9 am on the second Sunday of every month. This service might be "Holy Communion" or "Matins," which are traditional church services.

See also

• Grade I listed buildings in Nottinghamshire
• Listed buildings in Thoroton