St Peter's Church, Staple Fitzpaine facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St Peter |
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| General information | |
| Town or city | Staple Fitzpaine |
| Country | England |
| Coordinates | 50°57′32″N 3°02′59″W / 50.9588°N 3.0496°W |
| Completed | 14th century |
The Church of St Peter in Staple Fitzpaine is a very old and special building. It was first built during the Norman period, which was a long time ago. This means it has a unique design from that time. The church is also known as a "Grade I listed building." This is a special title given to buildings that are very important to history. It means the church is protected so it can stay safe for many years to come.
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History and Design of the Church
The Church of St Peter has grown and changed over many centuries. It started with a Norman doorway. This doorway was part of the very first church building. It was later moved and placed in the south aisle. An aisle is a side part of the church, like a hallway.
Building Through the Centuries
The main part of the church, called the chancel, was built in the 14th century. The chancel is the area around the altar where the priest leads services. Later, in the 15th century, a north aisle was added. At this time, the church was also "refenestrated." This means new windows were put in to make it brighter.
The tall tower of the church was built around the year 1500. It has a special design called "crenellated." This means the top looks like the walls of a castle, with solid parts and gaps. The tower has three main sections, one on top of the other. The solid parts of the castle-like wall are called "merlons." These merlons have arches shaped like a three-leaf clover, called "trefoil headed arches." The low wall at the very top of the tower is called a "parapet." It has holes shaped like a four-leaf clover, known as "quatrefoil."
Unique Stone Carvings
You can also see interesting stone carvings on the tower. These are called "hunky punks." They are like gargoyles but do not spout water. Some of these hunky punks show "heraldic features." These are special designs or symbols that represent families or important people from the past.
The south porch and the vestry are much newer parts of the church. They were added in 1841. The vestry is a room where the clergy prepare for services.
The Church Bells
St Peter's Church has six bells in its tower. The oldest bell is very ancient, dating all the way back to 1480. There are four other original bells that are also very old. In 1803, one of the bells was made by Thomas Castleman Bilbie. He was part of the famous Bilbie family from Cullompton. This family was well-known for making bells and clocks.
There is a long and interesting history of bell ringing at the church. The art of ringing church bells is called "campanology." It is a skill that has been passed down through generations.
See also
- List of Grade I listed buildings in Taunton Deane
- List of towers in Somerset
- List of ecclesiastical parishes in the Diocese of Bath and Wells
