St James's Church, Draycot Cerne facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St James's Church |
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| Location | Draycot Cerne, Sutton Benger, Wiltshire, England |
| Built | c. 1300 |
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Listed Building – Grade II*
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| Official name: Church of St James | |
| Designated | 20 December 1960 |
| Reference no. | 1200500 |
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St James's Church is a very old church located in Draycot Cerne, a small place in Sutton Benger, Wiltshire, England. It was built a long, long time ago, between 1260 and 1280. This means it's over 700 years old! Today, it's looked after by the Churches Conservation Trust, which helps to save important old churches. It became a "redundant church" in 1994, meaning it's no longer used for regular church services, but it's still a special historic building.
The church stands in a big park, close to where a large old house called Draycot House used to be. That house was taken down around 1955.
Contents
A Church with Many Names
Did you know the church hasn't always been called St James's? In the 1100s, it was known as All Saints'. Then, in the 1700s, people started calling it St. Peter's. It has only been known as St James's Church since the late 1800s.
What Does the Church Look Like?
The church has some very old parts. Its main body, called the nave, was built in the 1200s. The chancel, which is the part of the church near the altar, is even older and built in an Early English Gothic style. It's also a bit lower than the nave's floor.
The tall, two-part tower at the west end of the church was added later, in the 1500s or 1600s. It has strong supports called buttresses to help it stand firm. The church was also changed and fixed up in the 1800s.
Inside the Church
Inside St James's Church, you can find many interesting things from different times in history.
Old Paintings and Furniture
In the 1400s and 1500s, the walls of the chancel were covered with paintings. You can also see a pulpit (where the preacher stands) that is built in a Gothic style. There are also special box pews, which are like small enclosed seating areas.
Beautiful Stained Glass
The church has lovely stained glass windows from the Victorian era. These colorful windows were made by a company called Ward and Hughes.
Ancient Tombs and Memorials
Many important people are buried or remembered inside the church.
- De Cerne Family: Some of the oldest tombs belong to the de Cerne family, who lived here in the 1100s and 1200s. One tomb has a monumental brass (a metal plate with an engraving) for Sir Edward de Cerne. There's also a stone statue of a knight from the 1200s, which might be Phillip or John de Cerne. Henry of Cerne was even the church's rector (a type of priest) in 1304.
- Long Family: The church also holds many tombs and memorials for members of the Long family. You can see the painted tomb of Sir Thomas Long. There's also a special memorial bust (a sculpture of a head and shoulders) of Sir Robert Long. This bust was made by a sculptor named Joseph Wilton and sits on a marble stand designed by James Wyatt.
See also
