St Leonard's Church, Marston Bigot facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Leonard's Church |
|
|---|---|
A view from the East-South-East
of St Leonard's Church |
|
| General information | |
| Town or city | Marston Bigot |
| Country | England |
| Coordinates | 51°12′13″N 2°21′05″W / 51.2035°N 2.3513°W |
| Completed | 1789 |
The Church of St Leonard is a beautiful old church located in Marston Bigot, a village in Somerset, England. It was built by a powerful person named Edmund Boyle, 7th Earl of Cork and Orrery. He decided to build a new church in 1789. The reason? He wanted to replace an older church that was blocking the view from his home, Marston House. This church is very special and important. It has been given a 'Grade I listed building' status. This means it is one of the most important historic buildings in England.
The church is named after Leonard of Noblac, a saint.
About St Leonard's Church
Inside the Church
The main part of the church is called the nave. It has three sections with windows that have rounded tops. These windows have fancy decorations around them. If you look up, you will see a very detailed wooden ceiling. This special type of roof is known as a hammerbeam roof.
One of the most amazing features is the stained glass window at the east end. This window is very old, dating back to the 1400s! It came all the way from Altenberg Abbey in Germany. The glass shows a scene from the early life of Saint Bernard. He was a very important leader of the Cistercian order of monks.
The Church Tower
The church has a tall tower. Inside the tower, there is a set of eight bells. These bells were checked and fixed up in 2003. They ring out over the village.
Changes Over Time
The church has been updated since it was first built. In 1844, an architect named Edward Davis made some changes to the building. Later, from 1905 to 1912, Henry Waldegrave, 11th Earl Waldegrave, was the church's rector. He lived in the rectory, which is also a historic building.
See also
- List of Grade I listed buildings in Mendip
- List of towers in Somerset
