St Paul's Church, Salisbury facts for kids
St Paul's Church, Salisbury is a special church in Salisbury, England. It serves the area of Fisherton Anger, which is in the northern part of the city. The church belongs to the Church of England.
It was officially opened in 1853 and is located near the train station. The church building is considered important enough to be a Grade II listed building. This means it's protected because of its history and architecture.
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The Old Church: St Clement's
Before St Paul's Church was built, there was an older church called St Clement's. Records show a church in Fisherton as early as 1324. This old church was near the River Nadder and Fisherton Mill.
St Clement's was mostly built from flint stone. It had a tower on its west side, where bells were kept. People described it as a "simple village church" around 1824.
In 1852, St Clement's Church was taken down. St Paul's Church was built to replace it. The old church's site and graveyard were turned into a small park. This park is still an open space today. Volunteers help look after the garden there, making it a nice place for wildlife.
Building St Paul's Church
As more people moved into the area, a new, bigger church was needed. Around 1850, the decision was made to build St Paul's. A man named William Corbin Finch likely helped start this project. His family owned a large house nearby and he had been the Mayor of Salisbury.
The new church was built about 300 meters north of the old St Clement's site. It was designed by a London architect named Thomas Henry Wyatt. He designed it in a style popular around the 1300s, using flint and stone.
The church was officially opened in 1853. Some parts of the old St Clement's Church were reused. This included some stone pillars and arches. The new tower was built the same size as the old one, so the bells could be moved over.
When it was first built, St Paul's had:
- A chancel (the area near the altar)
- A wide nave (the main part where people sit)
- An aisle (a passage along the side)
- A tower with a pointed roof
- A porch at the south side
In 1876, another aisle was added on the north side of the church.
Church Bells
Six bells from St Clement's were moved to the new St Paul's Church. In 1949, two more bells were added. Today, some of the oldest bells in the church date back to 1609 and 1616.
Important Building Status
In 1972, St Paul's Church was given a Grade II listed building status. This means it's recognized as an important historical building. In 2009, modern church rooms were added to the north side of the building.
Inside the Church
The church has a simple, round font that was brought from St Clement's. A font is a basin used for baptisms. This one is very old, dating back to the 12th or 13th century.
The Church Community
The church parish still uses the old name, Fisherton Anger. A "parish" is the area that a church serves. The local government area with the same name became part of Salisbury in 1904.
In 1938, a northern part of the parish was moved to create a new area for another church, St Michael. The church for St Michael's wasn't finished until 1957.
Important church records, like those for christenings, marriages, and burials, are kept safe. These records go back to the 1650s and are stored at the Wiltshire and Swindon Record Office.
What St Paul's Church Believes
The people who go to St Paul's Church follow a Christian belief system called evangelicalism. They are connected with groups like the Evangelical Alliance and the New Wine Network. This evangelical style of worship has been part of St Paul's Church for a long time, since the mid-1800s.
Church Facilities
St Paul's Church has several useful buildings for its community.
- There are modern rooms attached to the main church building.
- The church also has offices in a separate building next door.
- Across Fisherton Street, there is a special three-story community center called the Hope Centre.
- People can walk between the church and the Hope Centre using underground walkways.
