St Thomas' Church, East Shefford facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Thomas' Church, East Shefford |
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| OS grid reference | SU 391 747 |
| Location | East Shefford, Berkshire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Website | Churches Conservation Trust |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Redundant |
| Heritage designation | Grade I |
| Designated | 11 July 1983 |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Norman, Gothic |
| Closed | 1870 |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Flint and stone, partly rendered Roofs tiled |
St Thomas' Church is a very old church in East Shefford, Berkshire, England. It is no longer used for regular church services, but it is kept safe and looked after by the Churches Conservation Trust. This church is considered a very important historical building, listed as Grade I. You can find it in a quiet spot, away from the main village, looking out over the River Lambourn.
Contents
History of St Thomas' Church
How Old Is This Church?
St Thomas' Church is super old! Some parts of it were built even before the Normans came to England in the 11th century. The oldest sections you see today date back to the late 1000s.
Building Changes Over Time
Over the years, the church grew bigger. The chancel, which is the area around the altar, was added in the 1200s. Later, in the 1500s, a small chapel was built on the south side. A porch was added in the 1700s, giving the church its current look.
When the Church Closed
People stopped using St Thomas' for regular church services in 1870. The community started going to a new church instead, but that new church was later taken down. St Thomas' Church was fixed up in 1887 to keep it in good condition.
Saving the Church Building
In 1958, there were plans to knock down St Thomas' Church. Luckily, a group called the Friends of Friendless Churches stepped in and saved it! Since 1972, the church has been cared for by a special organization that later became the Churches Conservation Trust. This group makes sure old churches like St Thomas' are protected for everyone to enjoy.
Architecture of St Thomas' Church
What the Outside Looks Like
St Thomas' Church is built mostly from flint and stone. Some parts of its walls are covered with a smooth plaster called stucco. The roofs are made of tiles. The church has a simple shape, with a main hall called a nave and a smaller area at the east end called a chancel. There's a brick porch on the south side. At the west end, you'll see a small wooden bellcote with a lead roof, where the bell hangs.
The church has different types of windows. Some are from the Norman period, which means they are very old and often have rounded tops. Other windows are newer, with two, three, or even four sections. There's even a special window called a dormer that sticks out from the roof of the chapel.
What the Inside Looks Like
Inside St Thomas' Church, one of the most interesting things is a large stone monument. It's a statue of Thomas Fettiplace, who died in 1447, and his wife, Beatrice, who died in 1442. Beatrice was thought to be part of the royal family of Portugal!
You can also see another tomb for John Fettiplace (who died in 1524) and his wife Dorothy. This tomb is simple, but it has cool metal pictures called brasses around it. Look down, and you'll find old tiles from the 1500s on the floor of the chancel.
The font, where baptisms happen, is also from the Norman period. It's a round stone bowl made of limestone. On the south side of the chancel, there's a small Norman piscina, which is a stone basin used for washing sacred vessels. High up on the wall above the chancel arch, you can still see paintings from the 1100s, and other walls have old painted texts.
See also
