Church of All Saints, Martock facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of All Saints |
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| Location | Martock, Somerset, England |
| Built | 13th century |
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Listed Building – Grade I
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| Designated | 28 April 1987 |
| Reference no. | 422626 |
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The Church of All Saints is a very old church located in Martock, Somerset, England. It was first built in the 13th century, which means it's over 700 years old! This church is so important that it has been named a Grade I listed building. This means it's a building of special historical interest and needs to be protected.
A Look at the Church's Long History
The Church of All Saints has a rich past. In 1227, the church became part of Wells Cathedral. The Treasurer of Wells Cathedral became the church's leader and supporter. He even lived nearby in a special house called the Treasurer's House.
Around the year 1505, the church's tall tower was built. This new tower had four main sections and strong corner supports called buttresses. These supports go all the way up the tower. At the same time, the rest of the church was also fixed up and made bigger. A very important person, Lady Margaret Beaufort, helped pay for this big expansion.
In July 1645, during a time of war, soldiers led by Oliver Cromwell used the church as a place to stay. They had just fought a battle nearby in Bridgwater. Sadly, the church was damaged during this time. For example, statues of saints were taken from special spots in the upper walls, known as the clerestory.
Restoring the Church Over Time
Over the years, the Church of All Saints has been carefully restored many times. In the 1800s, it had a major "Victorian restoration". This means it was repaired and updated in the style popular during Queen Victoria's reign.
One architect, Benjamin Ferrey, worked on the church from 1841 until he passed away. He was the main architect for the local church area, called the Diocese of Bath and Wells. Later, in 1883 and 1884, another architect named Ewan Christian also worked on the church. During his work, a new pulpit was put in. A pulpit is a raised stand where a speaker gives sermons.
Inside the church, you can see a special plaster altar. There is also an organ that used to be in Wells Cathedral. This shows how connected the two places are.
More restoration work happened in the early 1900s. In 1919, a special area called the Lady Chapel was fixed up and furnished. A screen was also added to separate parts of the church. In 1921, an old wooden altar table from the Jacobean period was repaired. It had been used as a simple table for a long time. After being fixed, it was put back as the main altar. In 1923, the lead roofs of the tower and other parts of the church were repaired and replaced.
See also
- List of Grade I listed buildings in South Somerset
- List of towers in Somerset
- List of ecclesiastical parishes in the Diocese of Bath and Wells
