St Thomas à Becket Church, Widcombe facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Thomas à Beckett Church |
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| 51°22′24″N 2°20′48″W / 51.373425°N 2.346556°W | |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Website | https://widcombe.church |
| History | |
| Dedication | St Thomas Becket |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Parish church |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Widcombe |
| Deanery | Bath |
| Archdeaconry | Bath |
| Diocese | Bath & Wells |
St Thomas à Becket Church is an old church in Widcombe, a part of Bath, Somerset in southwest England. It is one of several churches named after Thomas Becket, a famous historical figure. This church is a very important historical building. It is officially protected as a Grade II* listed building, meaning it has special historical or architectural value.
Contents
The Church's Long History
How Old Is This Church?
The church building you see today was built between 1490 and 1498. It was started by John Cantlow, who was in charge of Bath Abbey at the time. This new church replaced an even older church that stood on the same spot. People also believed that a weaver helped start the church. You can even see a weaver's shuttle (a tool used for weaving cloth) carved on the outside of the tower.
Historians think there might have been a small Saxon chapel here even before the Norman church. The area around the church was a small settlement back in 1086, according to the Domesday survey. For a long time, St Thomas à Becket Church was the main church for the areas of Widcombe and Lyncombe.
The Bells Move to a New Church
In 1847, a much bigger church called St Matthews was built in Widcombe. On April 22, 1847, it was announced that the church bells from St Thomas à Becket would be moved. These bells had been in the old church's tower for hundreds of years. There's a story that the bells were taken by force from the people looking after St Thomas's Church.
Saving the Old Church
After St Matthews opened, some people thought St Thomas à Becket Church should be closed. It was in poor condition back then. But people worked hard to raise money to fix it up. In 1860, new windows were put in. The ceiling of the tower was also made 10 feet higher. More repair work was finished in the years that followed.
In 1889, a new organ was installed in the church. This organ was made by Messrs. Clark and Son of Bath. New choir stalls, where the choir sits, were also placed in the chancel (the area near the altar).
A New Kind of Service
On January 15, 1924, something new happened at the church. What was believed to be the very first evening service was held there. Old church records going back centuries showed that only morning services had been held before that day.
People Buried Here
Some people who lived long ago are buried at St Thomas à Becket Church.
- William Keasberry, who passed away in 1797.
- The Bennet family, who had a family tomb here in the 1700s.
See Also
- List of ecclesiastical parishes in the Diocese of Bath and Wells
