St Margaret's, Corsley facts for kids
St Margaret's, Corsley is a special old church in a village called Corsley in Wiltshire, England. It's a Church of England parish church, which means it's the main church for the local area. In 1968, this church was given a special status called Grade II listed. This means it's an important historic building that needs to be protected because of its special architecture and history.
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Building a New Church: St Margaret's History
The church you see today was built in 1833. It was designed by an architect named John Leachman. He built it right where an even older church used to stand. That first church was very old, dating back to at least the 16th century, and it was dedicated to a different saint, St James.
What Does St Margaret's Look Like?
The church has a simple but strong design. It has a wide main hall called a nave, where people sit. Unlike some bigger churches, it doesn't have side sections called aisles. The part of the church near the altar, called the chancel, is under the same roof as the nave. This roof is made of strong, grey material called Welsh slate. At the west end of the church, there's a tall tower.
How St Margaret's Compares to Other Churches
St Margaret's is quite similar in design to another church built by John Leachman, Christ Church, Warminster. However, Christ Church has been changed and added to many times over the years. St Margaret's, on the other hand, has stayed mostly the same. This means it still looks very much like Leachman first planned it.
Inside St Margaret's, there's a special balcony at the west end. It's supported by four strong pillars made of cast iron. You can also see the Royal Arms of King George III. This is a special symbol showing the king's coat of arms.
The Church Bells and Clock
The tall tower of St Margaret's has six bells. Three of these bells are very old, dating back to the 1700s! Imagine how many times they've rung over the centuries. A clock was added to the tower around 1885, so people in the village could tell the time.
The Church's Long History in Corsley
People have been worshipping at a church in Corsley for a very long time. Records show there was a priest, or parson, in Corsley as early as the mid-1200s.
Becoming an Independent Parish
At first, the church in Corsley was not fully independent. It was connected to a bigger church, St Denys' Church, Warminster, which is about 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) away. But by 1415, Corsley had become its own independent parish. This meant it had its own church and priest, separate from Warminster.
The first time the church was officially called "St Margaret of Antioch" was in 1786. Some items from the very first church building are still used today. These include the pulpit, which is a raised stand where the priest gives sermons, from around 1700. There are also special boards that list people who gave money to the church, and several old monuments.
St Margaret's Today
Since 2007, St Margaret's Church in Corsley has been part of a group of churches called the Cley Hill benefice. This group also includes a smaller church built in 1903, St Mary's Church at Temple.
