St Paul's Church, Salisbury facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Paul's Church, Salisbury |
|
|---|---|
_(July_2022)_(6).jpg)
The church in July 2022
|
|
| Location | Fisherton Street, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP2 7QW |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Evangelical |
| History | |
| Status | Active |
| Founded | 1851 |
| Consecrated | 1853 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Parish church |
| Heritage designation | Grade II listed |
| Designated | 12 October 1972 |
| Architect(s) | Thomas Henry Wyatt |
| Architectural type | Decorated Gothic Revival |
| Years built | 1851–53 |
| Completed | 1853 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Fisherton Anger St Paul |
| Deanery | Salisbury |
| Archdeaconry | Sarum |
| Diocese | Salisbury |
| Province | Canterbury |
St Paul's Church is a Church of England church in the city of Salisbury, England. It serves a part of the city called Fisherton Anger, which is near the railway station. The church was officially opened for worship in 1853.
The church community is part of the Evangelical Alliance, a group of churches that share similar Christian beliefs. Because of its historical and architectural importance, St Paul's is a Grade II listed building, which means it is legally protected from being changed or demolished.
Contents
The Church Before St. Paul's
Before St Paul's was built, there was a much older church in the area called St. Clement's. The first records of a church in Fisherton Anger are from 1319. St. Clement's Church was first mentioned in 1324.
It was a small village church made mostly of flint, a type of hard stone. It stood near the River Nadder. In the 1400s or 1500s, a belfry (the part of a tower where bells are kept) was added to its tower.
In 1852, St. Clement's was knocked down to make way for the new, larger St Paul's Church. The land where the old church and its graveyard stood was turned into a small park. For a while, this park was managed as a "secret garden" for wildlife by a community group. Today, volunteers still take care of the garden, keeping it a peaceful green space.
Building the New Church
By the 1850s, the number of people living in Fisherton Anger had grown. The small St. Clement's Church was no longer big enough. A local man named William Corbin Finch, who had been the Mayor of Salisbury, likely pushed for a new church to be built.
A New Design
A new site was chosen about 300 metres north of the old church. The architect Thomas Henry Wyatt was hired to design the new building. He designed it in a style called Gothic Revival, which means it was made to look like a grand church from the Middle Ages, around the year 1300.
The church was built using flint and stone. Some of the stones and even some arches from the old St. Clement's Church were reused in the new building. The new tower was built to the same size as the old one so that the old bells and their frame could be moved over.
When it first opened in 1853, the church had a main hall called a nave, a special area at the front called a chancel, and a tower at the corner. An expert on buildings, Julian Orbach, called the small staircase tower on the front of the main tower "quirky" because of its unusual design. In 1876, another section called a north aisle was added to make more space.
The Church Bells
Six bells were moved from the old St. Clement's Church to the new tower. In 1949, two new, smaller bells were added to the set. The oldest bells still ringing in the church today were made in 1609 and 1616, making them over 400 years old!
Inside the Church
One of the most special items inside St Paul's is the font, which is a large stone bowl used for baptisms. This font is very old, dating back to the 1100s or 1200s. It was saved from the old St. Clement's Church and moved into St Paul's.
The Church Community Today
St Paul's is an active church with a lively community. The style of worship is known as evangelical, which focuses on the teachings of the Bible. The church is also part of the New Wine Network, a group of churches that work together to support each other.
The church has modern rooms that were added in 2009. It also has offices and a large community building called the Hope Centre located across the street. These buildings are used for church activities and to serve the local community.
The parish keeps historical records, including registers of baptisms, marriages, and burials that go back to 1653. These important documents are now stored safely at the Wiltshire and Swindon Record Office.
