St Margaret's Church, Spaxton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St Margaret |
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| General information | |
| Town or city | Spaxton |
| Country | England |
| Coordinates | 51°07′37″N 3°06′25″W / 51.1269°N 3.1069°W |
| Completed | 15th century |
The Church of St Margaret is an old and beautiful church located in Spaxton, a village in Somerset, England. Some parts of this church are very ancient, dating back to the 1100s and 1200s! However, most of what you see today was built in the 1400s. The church was also carefully repaired and updated in 1895. Because of its special history and architecture, it is known as a Grade I listed building. This means it's a very important historical site.
Contents
Discovering St Margaret's Church
This church has many interesting features from different time periods. Let's explore some of its oldest parts and how it has changed over the centuries.
Inside the Church Building
The main part of the church, called the nave, has three sections. It also has a smaller area on the south side, known as a south aisle. Look closely, and you might spot some special stonework. This is called "herringbone" stonework and comes from the Norman period, around the 11th or 12th century.
The Church Tower and Its History
The tall tower of the church has a clear building date. We know it was built around 1434 because someone left money in their will specifically for its construction. This shows how important the church was to the community. The tower was also made bigger in the 1300s.
The Chancel and Chapels
The chancel is the part of the church where the altar is located. It has a small chapel on its south side, called a transept chapel. There is also a north chapel, which has been changed into a vestry. A vestry is a room where clergy members prepare for services.
Bells and Clock Mechanism
The church tower holds six bells. Two of these bells are very old, dating back to the late 1600s. The church also has a clock, and some parts of its mechanism are even older, from the 1500s! Imagine how many times those bells have rung and that clock has ticked over the centuries.
The Church Community Today
The Church of St Margaret is part of a larger group of churches. This group is called a benefice. It includes churches from nearby villages like Aisholt, Enmore, Goathurst, Nether Stowey, Over Stowey, and Charlynch. They all work together within the Quantock deanery.
See also
- Grade I listed buildings in Sedgemoor
- List of Somerset towers
- List of ecclesiastical parishes in the Diocese of Bath and Wells
