St Paul's Church, Kewstoke facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St Paul |
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| General information | |
| Town or city | Kewstoke |
| Country | England |
| Coordinates | 51°21′56″N 2°57′25″W / 51.3655°N 2.9570°W |
| Completed | 12th century |
The Church of St Paul is a very old church located in Kewstoke, a village in Somerset, England. This church was first built way back in the 12th century, which means it's over 800 years old! The tall tower you see was added later, in 1395. Because it's so old and important, it's officially called a Grade I listed building. This means it's one of the most special historic buildings in England and is protected.
About St Paul's Church
The Church Tower
The church's tower is quite impressive. It has two main sections. Strong supports called buttresses lean against the corners, reaching up to the top. At the very top, these supports turn into pointy decorations called pinnacles. There's also a spiral staircase on the southeast side, leading up to a pointy roof.
The tower has several windows. The lower part has two windows on the west side and a smaller one on the south. The upper part has one window on each side. Look closely, and you might see some cool carvings around them! At the very top, there's a fancy stone wall with holes shaped like four-leaf clovers. You can also spot gargoyles at the corners. These are stone carvings, often shaped like animals or monsters, that help drain rainwater away from the building. Inside the tower, there are 6 bells that ring out for special occasions.
A Special Discovery
In 1849, something very interesting was found inside St Paul's Church. It was a special container called a reliquary. People believed this reliquary originally came from a nearby priory (a type of monastery). They also thought it held a tiny bit of blood from Thomas Becket. He was a very important archbishop who lived a long time ago.
It's thought that the reliquary was moved to St Paul's Church for safety. This happened during a time called the Dissolution of the Monasteries. This was when many monasteries in England were closed down. Today, this historic reliquary is kept safe at the Museum of Somerset in Taunton.
The Baptismal Font
The church also has a font that is very old. It's used for baptisms, which are special ceremonies. The font dates back to the 14th century. While the top part, or bowl, is much older, the base it sits on was recut and shaped more recently.
See also
- Grade I listed buildings in North Somerset
- List of Somerset towers
- List of ecclesiastical parishes in the Diocese of Bath and Wells
