St Swithun's Church, Nately Scures facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Nately Scures Parish Church |
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St Swithun’s, Nately Scures, Hampshire
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| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Broad church |
| History | |
| Dedication | St Swithun |
| Architecture | |
| Style | Norman |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Anglican United Parish |
| Diocese | Winchester |
| Province | Hampshire |
St Swithun's Church is a very old and special church in Hampshire, England. It is the smallest ancient Church of England parish church in the county. A parish church serves a local area for its community.
St Swithun's is part of a larger group called the Anglican United Parish. This group includes churches from Newnham, Nately Scures, Greywell, Mapledurwell, and Up Nately. They also work closely with seven other churches nearby.
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Church History and Design
This church was built around the year 1175. It was made from flint stones and other rough materials. The doors and windows are made from a special stone called Binstead stone.
Norman Architecture Explained
St Swithun's is a great example of a Norman single-cell apsidal church. This means it was built in the Norman style, which was popular after the Normans came to England in 1066.
Single-cell means the church has one main room for everyone. Apsidal means one end of the church is rounded, like a half-circle. This design was common a long time ago.
There are only four churches like this left in the UK. St Swithun's is considered the best preserved one.
Changes Over Time
Over the years, the church has had some updates. In 1591, a gallery was added inside. A gallery is like a balcony for people to sit or stand.
Later, in 1786, this gallery was rebuilt. The roof of the church was also repaired at the same time. These changes helped keep the old church strong and usable.
Church Services and Visits
Services are held regularly in the churches of the United Parish. St Swithun's usually hosts services twice each month.
The church is always open during the day. This means visitors can come inside and look around. It is a peaceful place to explore its long history.
Notable Burials
Many people have been buried at St Swithun's Church over the centuries. Some notable individuals include:
- The 1st Baron Dorchester, a high-ranking military leader.
- Thomas Carleton, a military officer.
- Sir Christopher Wallace, another important military figure.
- Violet Edith Potter.
