St Stephen's Church, St Albans facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Stephen's Church, St Albans |
|
|---|---|
.JPG)
St Stephen's Church, St Albans
|
|
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Broad Church |
| Website | St Stephen's Church, St Albans |
| History | |
| Dedication | St. Stephen |
| Administration | |
| Parish | St Albans |
| Diocese | St Albans |
| Province | Canterbury |
St Stephen's Church is a Church of England church located in St Albans, Hertfordshire, England. You can find it south of the town centre, at the top of St Stephen's Hill. This church is a very important old building, officially known as a Grade II* listed building.
Contents
A Look Back: The Church's History
How Old is St Stephen's Church?
People believe St Stephen's Church was first built around the year 948 AD. It was founded by a leader called Abbot Ulsinus from St Albans. The church was one of three built at that time. Their main purpose was to welcome pilgrims. These pilgrims were on their way to visit the shrine of Saint Alban at St Albans Abbey. All three churches are still active today.
What Did the First Church Look Like?
The original Anglo-Saxon church was about 10 metres (34 feet) wide and 11.5 metres (38 feet) long. It probably had two main rooms. Back then, it didn't have a tall tower. Not much of that first building remains today. However, a small, deep-set window near the Parish Centre door is from around 950 AD.
Changes Over the Centuries
About 50 years after the Norman conquest in 1066, the church became bigger. This happened between 1101 and 1118. A bishop named Gilbert from Limerick officially opened the new part. Later, around 1170, a north aisle was added. An aisle is a long, narrow space in a church.
In the middle of the 1400s, many more changes took place. A bell tower was built over the west end of the south aisle. The walls of the main part of the church, called the nave, were made taller. New windows were put in high up to let in more light. This feature is known as a "clerestory". The area around the altar, called the chancel, was also made larger. The wooden arch leading to the chancel is from this time.
Modern Restoration of the Church
Most of the church you see today is from the Middle Ages. However, it was carefully fixed up in the 1860s. At that time, it was almost falling apart. A famous architect named George Gilbert Scott led this work. The tall, pointed roof on the tower, called a spire, was added then. It replaced an older, simpler "Hertfordshire Spike" roof.
St Stephen's Church is part of the Diocese of St Albans. This is a larger group of churches in the area.
Church Architecture and Features
What is the Church Made Of?
The church walls are made of flint stones. These stones are decorated with cut stone and old Roman bricks. The roof is made of tiles. The church has a main area (nave), a south aisle, and a chancel with a south chapel. There is a belfry (bell tower) at the west end of the nave.
The Bells of St Stephen's
The church has a set of bells. These bells were remade in 1957. They were made lighter because the older bells, from 1892, were too heavy for their frame.
Inside the Church
The wooden benches, called pews, and other fancy wooden parts are from the Victorian era. The current pulpit, where the priest gives sermons, and its cover were added in 1936. The eagle lectern, a stand for reading, is a copy of a very old and famous one from Dunkeld. The eight-sided font, used for baptisms, is from the 15th century. There is also a small basin called a piscina from the 13th century. This was used for washing sacred vessels.
Images for kids
-
St Stephen's Church, St Albans
See also
- Saint Stephen
- St Stephen, Hertfordshire
