St Saviour's Church, Puxton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of The Holy Saviour |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| General information | |
| Town or city | Puxton |
| Country | England |
| Coordinates | 51°21′55″N 2°51′13″W / 51.3652°N 2.8536°W |
| Completed | 13th century |
The Church of The Holy Saviour is an old church located in Puxton, Somerset, England. It was built a very long time ago, in the 13th century. This church is considered a very important historical building. It is listed as a Grade I building, which means it has special historical or architectural value.
The church is now looked after by the Churches Conservation Trust. This group helps to protect old churches that are no longer used for regular services. The Church of The Holy Saviour officially became part of their care on August 1, 2002.
Contents
A Look at the Church's History
This church is quite small and still looks much like it did in the Middle Ages. It was first built as a "chapel of ease." This means it was a smaller church built for people who lived far from the main parish church. It was a convenient place for them to worship. The church was officially made sacred, or "consecrated," in 1539.
Why the Tower Leans
The church's tower, built in the 15th century, has a slight lean. This happened because the ground it was built on was very soft and boggy, full of peat. As the tower was being built, it started to sink a little towards the southwest. Because of this, the builders could not make the tower as tall as they had planned.
Church Style and Design
From the outside, the church looks like it was built in the Perpendicular Gothic style. This was a popular style of architecture in England during the late Middle Ages. However, the main part of the church, called the nave, is even older. It has a style that mixes Saxon and Norman designs.
Inside the Church
The inside of the Church of The Holy Saviour is very bright. The floor is made of large, uneven stone slabs. Some of these stones are "ledger stones," which are flat stones placed over graves.
Old Furniture and Art
You can see some very old furniture inside. The wooden "box pews" on the north side of the nave are from the early 1700s. A "box pew" is like a private seating area with high sides. The wooden reading desk and pulpit are from the Jacobean period. This was a time in English history named after King James I. The "font," which is a basin used for baptisms, is even older, from the Norman period.
Above the south door, there are "royal arms" from 1751. These are symbols of the king or queen who ruled at that time. You can also see a special shield from 1557 above the entrance door. This shield belonged to Sir John St Lo. His family, the Seyntloo or St Loe family, used to own a nearby estate called Over Langford Manor.
Recent Challenges and Preservation
In June 2000, some problems were found with the wooden beams in the church's roof. Because of these structural issues, the building had to be closed for a while. On July 2, 2002, the church was officially declared "redundant" by the government. This meant it was no longer needed for regular church services. This is why it is now cared for by the Churches Conservation Trust, ensuring it remains a preserved piece of history.
See also
- List of Grade I listed buildings in North Somerset
- List of towers in Somerset
- List of churches preserved by the Churches Conservation Trust in South West England
