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, England, is a very old and important building. It was first built in the Norman style, which means it dates back to the time of the Normans in England (around 1066 to the 12th century). This church is so special that it has been named a Grade I listed building. This means it's considered one of the most important historic buildings in England and is protected.
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A Look at Its History
The Church of St Peter has a long and interesting past. You can still see parts of its original Norman design, like a special doorway that was moved to the south side of the church.
Building Through the Centuries
The main part of the church, called the chancel (where the altar is), was built in the 14th century. Later, in the 15th century, a new section called the north aisle was added. At the same time, the church got new windows, a process called "refenestration."
The tall tower of the church was built around the year 1500. However, the south porch (the entrance area) and the vestry (a room for clergy) are much newer, added in 1841.
Unique Tower Features
The church tower is quite striking. It has three levels and is "crenellated," meaning it has a top edge with square shapes like a castle wall. This top part, called a "parapet," has openings shaped like four-leaf clovers ("quatrefoils"). The tower also features "merlons," which are the solid parts of the crenellated wall, with small, three-lobed arches cut into them.
Look closely at the stonework, and you might spot "hunky punks." These are carved stone figures, similar to gargoyles, that often show family symbols or designs, known as "heraldic features."
The Church Bells
The Church of St Peter is home to six bells. The oldest bell is incredibly ancient, dating all the way back to 1480! Four of the bells are original to the church from long ago.
In 1803, one of the bells was made by Thomas Castleman Bilbie. He was part of the famous Bilbie family from Cullompton, who were well-known for making bells and clocks. There's a long tradition of bell ringing at the church, which is also known as "campanology."
