St Nicholas's Church, Berwick Bassett facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Nicholas's Church |
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| Location | Berwick Bassett, Wiltshire England |
| Built | 15th century |
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Listed Building – Grade II*
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| Designated | 27 February 1958 |
| Reference no. | 1365565 |
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St Nicholas's Church is a very old church in a small village called Berwick Bassett in Wiltshire, England. It was first built a long, long time ago, in the early 1200s!
This church is special because it's listed as a Grade II* building. This means it's a really important historic place that needs to be protected. It's now looked after by the Churches Conservation Trust, which helps save old churches. Even though it's not used for regular services anymore, special events still happen there a few times a year.
Contents
Exploring the Church
You can only get to St Nicholas's Church by walking along a path. It's a peaceful spot!
How the Church Was Built
The oldest part of the church is the redbrick chancel, which is the area around the altar. It was built between 1199 and 1221. Later, in the 1300s, the nave was added. The nave is the main part of the church where people sit. It was built using a special type of stone called sarsen stone.
Inside the Church
Inside, you'll find many interesting old features:
- A font from the 1200s. This is a large basin used for baptisms.
- A rood screen from the 1400s. This is a beautiful wooden screen that separates the nave from the chancel.
- A pulpit, altar rail, and pews from the 1800s. The pulpit is where the priest gives sermons, the altar rail is where people kneel for communion, and pews are the long benches where people sit.
- A piscina with a trefoil shape. This is a small, shallow basin used for washing the special cups and plates used during communion.
Old Memorials
On the walls, you can see old stone tablets called monuments. These remember people who lived long ago, like Henry Webb (who died in 1776), John Nalder (1794), and Elizabeth Nalder (1835).
Church History and Changes
In the 1660s, a famous writer named John Aubrey visited the church. He wrote about the memorials and tombs he saw there.
In 1857, the church had a big makeover by an architect named Thomas Henry Wyatt. During this time, the old wooden tower was replaced with the stone tower you see today. This new tower holds three bells that are from the 1600s! The walls were also covered with a smooth finish and painted white.
See also
