St Michael and All Angels Church, Badminton facts for kids

St Michael and All Angels Church

St Michael and All Angels is a beautiful old church in the village of Great Badminton, Gloucestershire, England. It's on the huge estate of the Duke of Beaufort. This church is very special because it's connected to Badminton House, which is where the Duke lives. It's an active Anglican church, meaning it's part of the Church of England. Even though it's on the Duke's land, the local church council takes care of it. There's also a smaller church with the same name nearby in Little Badminton.

The Church Building

The church you see today was built in 1785. A person named Charles Evans designed it. He made it look like a smaller version of a famous church in London called St Martin-in-the-Fields. Before this church, there was an older, medieval church that was taken down.

Inside the Church

The main part of the church, called the nave, has a cool arched ceiling that looks like a tunnel. It's decorated with fancy plasterwork. There are also rows of arches and side areas called aisles.

Later, in 1875, the back part of the church, the chancel and apse, was made bigger. This was done to make space for a very grand monument. This monument is for Henry Somerset, 1st Duke of Beaufort. He was first buried somewhere else, but his monument was moved here in 1878.

Many parts of the church's inside are very old. The pulpit (where the priest speaks) and the box pews (seats) are from 1785. Other parts, like the organ case and the choir stalls, were made later in 1908 by Temple Moore. The church has eight stained glass windows. They were made in 1846–1847 and show family symbols and designs in blue and yellow.

Somerset Family Burials

St Michael and All Angels Church is the main burial place for the Somerset family. This family has lived at Badminton House for a very long time. For many years, the Dukes and Duchesses of Beaufort were buried in a special vault under the church. After about 1910, they started being buried in the small churchyard outside.

Famous Monuments Inside

One of the most amazing things inside the church is the monument to the 1st Duke of Beaufort (who lived from 1629 to 1700). It was made by a famous artist named Grinling Gibbons. The monument shows the Duke lying down in his special robes. It has tall columns, fancy carvings, and even figures of Justice and Truth. Above the Duke, curtains seem to open to show angels.

There's another impressive monument for two other Dukes: the 2nd Duke (1684–1714) and the 3rd Duke (1707–1745). This one was made by John Michael Rysbrack in 1754. It shows the two Dukes dressed in old Roman clothes. One is standing, and the other is sitting and holding a medal.

Family Members Buried Here

Many members of the Somerset family are buried in or near the church. Here are some of them:

• Lady Mary Sackville (died 1705), first wife of the 2nd Duke.
• Lady Rachel Noel (died 1709), second wife of the 2nd Duke.
• Henry Somerset, 2nd Duke of Beaufort (1684–1714).
• Mary Capell (1630–1715), wife of the 1st Duke.
• Henry Somerset-Scudamore, 3rd Duke of Beaufort (1707–1745).
• Charles Somerset, 4th Duke of Beaufort (1709–1756).
• Lady Anne Somerset (1673–1763), daughter of the 1st Duke.
• Henry Somerset, 5th Duke of Beaufort (1744–1803).
• Henry Somerset, 6th Duke of Beaufort (1766–1835).
• Henry Somerset, 7th Duke of Beaufort (1792–1853).
• FitzRoy Somerset, 1st Baron Raglan (1788–1855), a famous Field Marshal.
• Emily Frances Smith (1800–1889), second wife of the 7th Duke.
• Henry Somerset, 8th Duke of Beaufort (1824–1899).
• Lady Georgiana Curzon (1825–1906), wife of the 8th Duke.
• Henry Somerset, 9th Duke of Beaufort (1847–1924).
• Henry Somerset, 10th Duke of Beaufort (1900–1984).
• Lady Mary Cambridge (1897–1987), wife of the 10th Duke.