St Michael's Church, Othery facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St Michael |
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| General information | |
| Architectural style | Norman |
| Town or city | Othery |
| Country | England |
| Coordinates | 51°04′50″N 2°52′58″W / 51.0806°N 2.8829°W |
The Church of St Michael is a very old church in Othery, Somerset, England. It was first built in the 12th century, which means it's over 800 years old!
This church is considered very important. It has been named a Grade I listed building by English Heritage. This means it's one of the most important historic buildings in England. However, some parts of its tall tower need repair. Because of this, it is also on the Heritage at Risk Register. This list helps people know which important buildings need special care to protect them.
Contents
History of the Church
The Church of St Michael has a long and interesting history. Othery was once part of a larger church area called Sowy parish. From 1203, Othery had its own special priest, even though the church was built before then.
In 1515, the Sowy parish was divided. Othery then became its own separate church area with its own main church and priest, called a vicar. The first vicar of Othery Parish was John Colmer, who served from 1515 to 1522.
How the Church Was Built
The church was mostly built in a style called perpendicular Gothic. This style is known for its tall, straight lines and large windows. The church was changed and updated in the 15th century. It was partly rebuilt again after 1844.
The church has a special type of tower called a Somerset tower. These towers are very common in the Somerset area. The tower was repaired in 1849 and again in 1853. During these repairs, new pointed decorations called pinnacles were added. Niches, which are small hollow spaces for statues, were also built. Later, sculptures of heads and angels were added to the tower.
Inside the tower, there are five bells. The oldest bell was made in the 1650s by a person named Robert Austen. The other bells were made between 1692 and 1815.
Inside the Church
The Church of St Michael has some beautiful features inside.
Stained Glass Windows
You can see special round pieces of medieval glass in the church. These pieces are called Roundels. They originally came from Glastonbury Abbey, a very famous old abbey. These roundels show the faces of three important religious scholars.
More Stained glass windows were put in during the 1850s. These beautiful windows were made by artists like Hardman, Bell, and Holland of Warwick. They are in different parts of the church, including the chancel (the area near the altar), the vestry (a room for the priest), and the north transept (a part of the church that sticks out like an arm).
Chard Brothers Memorial
The church also has a special memorial. It remembers three brothers from the Chard family. One of them was Colonel John Chard, who was a famous soldier. He was known for leading a brave defence at a place called Rorke's Drift in South Africa in 1879. His father lived nearby at Pathe.
The Othery Cope
A very special old church robe was found under the medieval pulpit (a raised platform where sermons are given) during the repairs in the Victorian era. This robe is called the Othery Cope. It is a very rare church garment from the 16th century. It has been carefully repaired and is now kept at the Glastonbury Abbey Museum.
Ley Lines Connection
Some people believe that Othery church is on a special invisible line called a ley line. These lines are thought to connect ancient and important places. A writer named John Michell suggested this ley line. Other churches dedicated to St Michael that are also on this proposed line include those at Burrow Mump and Glastonbury Tor.
See also
- List of ecclesiastical parishes in the Diocese of Bath and Wells
