St Michael's Church, Dundry facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Parish church of St Michael the Archangel |
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| General information | |
| Town or city | Dundry |
| Country | England |
| Coordinates | 51°23′56″N 2°38′14″W / 51.3990°N 2.6373°W |
The Parish Church of St Michael the Archangel is a historic church located in Dundry, Somerset, England. Its tall tower was built way back in 1484. The rest of the church building was rebuilt much later, in 1861. This church is very important, so it has been given a special status as a Grade I listed building. This means it's a building of exceptional historical or architectural interest.
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A Look Back: The Church's History
The church's impressive tower was built around 1484. It was designed to be a landmark, meaning it's easy to spot from far away! You can see it from many places across the Avon area.
The older parts of the church were replaced in 1861. A person named G.B. Gabriel was in charge of building the new sections.
In 2015, the church had to close its doors. This was because plaster was falling from the ceiling, making it unsafe. Fixing the roof was going to cost a lot of money, about £225,000!
People worked hard to raise money for the repairs. They got help from groups like the Heritage Lottery Fund. Thanks to their efforts, the church was fully renovated. It was able to open again in September 2018, looking good as new!
Exploring the Churchyard
Outside the church, you'll find a large stone cube. It's about 5 feet (1.5 meters) tall and wide. This stone is called the dole table. Long ago, it was used to give alms (money or food) to people who were poor.
There's also a tall churchyard cross, about 3 meters high. It stands on an eight-sided base. The top part of the cross was added in the 1800s. It looks just like an older cross that used to be there. This cross is so old and important that it's protected as an ancient monument.
You can also see old stone chest tombs in the churchyard. These are like stone boxes that mark graves. Some belong to the Dowling family and the Holbrook family. They are thought to be from the mid-1700s.
The Church's Design and Features
The tower of St Michael's Church is very tall, reaching 97 feet (about 30 meters) high! Because it's on top of a hill, you can see it from many miles away. The tower has strong supports called buttresses. At the very top, it has four small turrets (like mini-towers) at each corner. There's also a spiral staircase inside one of the turrets.
Inside the tower, there are six bells. The oldest of these bells was made in 1642! The church building itself has a main area called the nave. It also has a chancel (where the altar is) and a chapel. There are also side sections called north and south aisles. All these parts have roofs made of slate.
Images for kids
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The Parish Church of St Michael the Archangel in Dundry.
