St Paul's Church, West Wycombe facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St. Paul's |
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The Church in 2012
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 St. Paul's
Location in Buckinghamshire
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| 51°38′42″N 0°48′01″W / 51.6451°N 0.8004°W | |
| Location | High Street, West Wycombe |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| History | |
| Founded | 1875 |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | John West Hugall |
St. Paul's Church is located on High Street in West Wycombe, England. It is one of two Anglican churches in this village.
Lady Elizabeth Dashwood had St. Paul's built to serve the people of West Wycombe. She was the widow of Sir George Henry Dashwood. The church was completed in 1875. The architect who designed it was J. W. Hugall from Oxford.
Contents
Discovering St. Paul's Church History
The church's history has a small puzzle! A famous expert named Nicholas Pevsner once wrote that St. Paul's was built in 1845. He also said the architect was unknown.
However, the stained glass windows inside the church clearly show the date 1875. This date is also confirmed in the official Victoria County History records. These sources also name J.W. Hugall as the architect.
What is the Church Made Of?
The roof of St. Paul's Church features special wooden beams called pitch pine roof trusses. These are strong and help support the roof.
Exploring the Church's Interior
When you step inside St. Paul's, you might notice a metal grill on the floor near the entrance. This covers an old hot air heating system. Steps lead down to a furnace where wood or coal was burned. The warm air would then travel through a flue under the building. It would exit through a chimney behind the organ. This heating system is no longer used today.
What is a Baptismal Font?
Near the church door, there is a large, traditional font. This is a special basin used for baptizing babies and new members. It represents the very beginning of a person's journey of faith.
Special Windows and Art
St. Paul's has two beautiful stained glass windows. One was a gift from the architect, J.W. Hugall himself. The other was given by Sir Theodore H L Brinckman Bart..
Across from the entrance, you will see a large crucifix. This is a statue of Christ the King. It was brought to St. Paul's from a church in Italy.
The Church Organ
The church also has a small organ. It is a single manual, chamber organ. This means it has one keyboard and is designed for smaller spaces. It is still played regularly during services.
St. Paul's Church is unique because it is shared with the Serbian Orthodox Church. They call it St. Nicholas. The Serbian Orthodox community holds a service there once a month.
What is an Iconostasis?
A very important part of the Serbian Orthodox services is the iconostasis. This is a screen covered with many beautiful religious paintings called icons. It is a prominent feature inside the church.
Other Features Inside
You can also find a statue of the Virgin Mary in the church. The Blessed Sacrament is also kept here. This is a special part of the Christian faith.
The 'Winter Church' and 'Summer Church'
St. Paul's is often called the 'Winter Church.' This is because it was easier to reach during colder months. The other church in the village, St. Lawrence, is on West Wycombe Hill. It is known as the 'Summer Church.'
Until 1928, there was no proper road leading up to St. Lawrence. Also, St. Lawrence did not have electricity until the 1970s. This made St. Paul's a more practical place for services during winter.
Village Events at St. Paul's
In the past, the grounds around St. Paul's Church were used for a big village festival called the West Wycombe Revels. This was a large fete held every summer. Many local people have happy memories of these fun events.
