St Oswald's Church, Lassington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Oswald's Church, Lassington |
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South face of the tower of St Oswald's Church, Lassington
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| OS grid reference | SO 796 211 |
| Location | Lassington, Highnam, Gloucestershire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Website | [1] |
| History | |
| Dedication | Saint Oswald |
| Dedicated | 1095 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Redundant |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* |
| Designated | 10 January 1955 |
| Style | Norman |
| Groundbreaking | Late 11th century |
| Completed | 14th century |
| Closed | 1972 |
| Demolished | 1975 (body of church) |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Lias rubble, stone slate roof |
St Oswald's Church was once an important Anglican church. It stood in the small village of Lassington, which is part of Highnam in Gloucestershire, England. Today, only the church tower remains.
This historic tower is now looked after by the Churches Conservation Trust. It is also recognized as a Grade II* listed building. This means it is a very important historical structure.
The Church's Story
The building of St Oswald's Church tower started a long time ago, in the late 1000s. The church was first a small chapel connected to St Oswald's Priory in Gloucester.
The main part of the church, called the nave, and the south entrance were built in the Norman style. This style was popular in England after the Norman Conquest. The eastern part, known as the chancel, was built in an Early English style.
In the 1300s, another section was added to the tower, making it taller. Later, in 1678, a small chapel on the south side was taken down. The next year, the south wall of the chancel was rebuilt, and two new windows were added.
A big repair project happened in 1875. During this time, most of the church was taken down, except for the tower. It was then rebuilt on its original foundations. An organ room and a vestry (a room for clergy robes) were also added.
Over time, the church building started to fall apart. By 1970, there were holes in the roof. In 1972, the church was officially declared "redundant," meaning it was no longer used for regular services. The main part of the church was taken down in 1975, leaving only the tower. The tower itself was repaired the following year.
What the Tower Looks Like
The tower of St Oswald's Church is made from a type of stone called lias rubble. It has a roof made of stone slates. The tower has three main sections, or "stages." It also has a pointed, pyramid-shaped roof with an iron cross at the very top.
On the east side of the bottom section, there is a round-topped doorway. On the west side, you can see a narrow, round-topped window called a lancet window. The middle section of the tower has another lancet window on its south side.
The top section of the tower has wider openings for bells. These openings have a special shape called a trefoil (like a three-leaf clover). Inside these openings are stone louvres, which are angled slats that let sound out but keep rain away.
See also
