St Sampson's Church, York facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Sampson's Church |
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St Sampson's Church, seen from Church Street
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 St Sampson's Church
Location in North Yorkshire
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| 53°57′35″N 1°04′53″W / 53.95972°N 1.08125°W | |
| Location | Church street, York |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Previous denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Website | stsampsonscentre.co.uk |
| History | |
| Former name(s) | Church of St Sampson, Girdlergate |
| Status | Parish church |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Community centre |
| Heritage designation | Grade II listed |
| Designated | 14 June 1954 |
| Architect(s) | Frederick Bell |
| Architectural type | Parish church |
| Style | Gothic |
| Years built | 1845–1848 |
| Groundbreaking | Early 12th century |
| Completed | 1480s |
| Closed | 1969 |
| Specifications | |
| Number of towers | 1 |
| Bells | 2 |
St Sampson's Church is a very old building in the city of York, England. It used to be a church where people went to worship. Today, it is a busy community center. You can find it on Church Street, close to St Sampson's Square.
Contents
A Look Back: The Church's Early Days
St Sampson's Church has a long and interesting history. It stands on what used to be part of the wall of the Roman city of York. The very first church here was likely built before the Norman Conquest in 1066. We know this because a piece of an old cross from the 11th century was found nearby. Also, parts of a Norman-era wall have been found under the current church building.
The church was first officially written about in 1154. It is named after Saint Sampson of York. This is the only church in all of England dedicated to him!
Growing and Changing Over Time
The church building was slowly rebuilt and made bigger during the 1400s. The south side was rebuilt in the early 1400s. The north side was updated around the 1440s. The tall tower at the west end was rebuilt in the 1480s.
In 1549, there was a plan to combine St Sampson's with another church, St Helen's. This plan did not happen. However, St Sampson's did get two bells from St Helen's Church.
Damage and Repairs
The church faced some tough times. In 1644, during the English Civil War, the church's tower was damaged. Soldiers supporting Parliament then destroyed most of the old monuments inside the church.
Between 1845 and 1848, most of the church was rebuilt by an architect named Frederick Bell. He made sure it still looked like a Gothic church, which was a popular style in the Middle Ages. Because of this big rebuild, the church looks more like a Victorian building than a medieval one. The old tower survived, but it was made shorter. Later, in 1910, it was made taller again.
Some parts of the church are still from before the Victorian rebuild. These include a special window on the north side, some decorative carvings on the roof, the frame that holds the bells, and the north and south doors. There are also some old stone basins (called a piscina) and various monuments.
From Church to Community Centre
In 1969, St Sampson's Church closed its doors as a place of worship. Many of its old fittings and decorations were removed.
However, the building was saved and restored by an architect named George Pace. In 1974, it reopened as a helpful center for older people. George Pace added a new floor inside, above the north side, to create space for offices. He also put a kitchen in the south side. The area where the altar used to be was turned into a small chapel.
Today, St Sampson's Church is an important part of the community in York. It is also recognized as a Grade II listed building, which means it is a special historic building that needs to be protected.
Images for kids
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St Sampson's Church, seen from Church Street
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Aerial view of the church, from St Sampson's Square
