St John the Baptist, Edlingham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St John the Baptist |
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 St John the Baptist
Location in Northumberland
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| 55°22′34″N 1°49′16″W / 55.3760°N 1.8210°W | |
| OS grid reference | NU113091 |
| Location | Garden Terrace, Edlingham, Northumberland NE66 2BN |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
St John the Baptist is a very old church, built in the Middle Ages (around the 11th century). You can find it in Edlingham, a village in Northumberland, England. Most of the church was built by the Normans, a group of people who came from France and ruled England a long time ago. They built parts of it in the late 1000s and early 1100s, and then added more in the late 1100s.
For example, the arch leading to the main altar area (called the chancel arch) and the south entrance porch, which has a special Norman arched ceiling, are from the late 1000s. The row of arches on the north side of the church (the north aisle arcade) was built later, in the late 1100s. The stone pillars inside are round, and the tops of these pillars (called capitals) have a wavy, shell-like shape with small, bumpy decorations that look like nail heads. The tall tower on the west side of the church was designed to be strong and protect people. It might have been started in the late 1100s but finished later.
The church is right next to Edlingham Castle. This castle was built in the 1200s and had extra walls and defenses added in the 1500s.
Contents
What is Norman Architecture?
Norman architecture is a style of building that was popular in England after the Norman Conquest in 1066. It uses thick walls, round arches, and strong, simple designs. Churches built in this style often feel very solid and grand.
- Thick Walls: Norman buildings have very thick stone walls, which made them strong and durable.
- Round Arches: You'll see many round arches over windows, doors, and inside the church.
- Simple Decorations: While some parts have detailed carvings, many Norman designs are quite simple and powerful.
Key Features of St John the Baptist
St John the Baptist church shows many classic Norman features. These details help us understand how people built things almost a thousand years ago.
- Chancel Arch: This is the large arch that separates the main part of the church (the nave) from the chancel, where the altar is. It's a key Norman feature.
- South Porch: The entrance porch on the south side is special because it has a "tunnel vault." This means the ceiling is a long, rounded arch, like a tunnel. It's rare to find such an old Norman example.
- North Aisle Arcade: An "arcade" is a row of arches supported by columns. The one on the north side of the church shows later Norman style.
- Scalloped Capitals: The tops of the columns are called "capitals." At St John the Baptist, they have a wavy, shell-like pattern, which is a common Norman decoration.
- Nail-Head Bands: These are small, pyramid-shaped bumps that look like the heads of nails. They are often used in bands or rows to decorate stone.
The Defensible West Tower
The tower at the west end of the church is not just for bells. It was built to be a strong, safe place. In the past, this area could be dangerous, so churches sometimes had towers where people could hide if there was an attack. This shows how important the church was to the community, not just for worship but also for safety.
St John the Baptist and Edlingham Castle
It's interesting that the church is so close to Edlingham Castle. This suggests that the church and the castle were both important parts of the village's history and defense. The castle was built later than the main parts of the church, but both buildings tell us about life in medieval Northumberland.
Images for kids
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A view of St John the Baptist church in Edlingham.
