St Michael's Church, Stawley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St Michael |
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| General information | |
| Town or city | Stawley |
| Country | England |
| Coordinates | 50°59′44″N 3°20′25″W / 50.9955°N 3.3404°W |
| Completed | 13th century |
The Church of St Michael in Stawley, Somerset, England is a very old and important building. It was first built in the 13th century, which means it's over 700 years old! Because of its age and special history, it is a Grade I listed building. This means it's one of the most important historic buildings in England.
Contents
A Look Back in Time
The Church of St Michael stands where an even older church once stood. This first church was built in the Norman style. The Normans were people who came from France and ruled England after 1066. You can still see parts of this very old Norman church today. Some of its walls in the main part of the church, called the nave, have a special zig-zag pattern called a herringbone pattern.
Building the Church We See Today
Most of the church you see now was built in the early 1500s. A local farmer and trader named Henry Howe helped pay for much of it. His name is remembered with a special carving above the door. The tall church tower was also built around this time. Another family, possibly the Pouletts, helped pay for the tower. Their family symbol, called a coat of arms, with three swords, can be seen on the tower.
Church Records and Changes
The church has kept records of important events, like births, marriages, and deaths, since 1528. That's a very long time ago! In 1873, some small changes were made to the church. This was part of a trend called "Victorian restoration," where people in the Victorian era updated old buildings. However, the church still looks mostly like it did in medieval times.
In 2007, a new bell was added to the church tower. This bell had been used in another church before. Now, the church has six bells that ring out from its tall, three-part tower.
The Church Community Today
The Church of St Michael is part of the Anglican Church, which is the main church in England. It serves the local community in Stawley. It used to be part of a larger group of churches around Wellington. Now, it's part of a newer group of churches called the Benefice of West Tone.
See also
- List of Grade I listed buildings in Taunton Deane
- List of towers in Somerset
- List of ecclesiastical parishes in the Diocese of Bath and Wells
