Church of St Andrew & St Mary, Pitminster facts for kids

Church of St Andrew & St Mary
General information
Town or city	Pitminster
Country	England
Coordinates	50°57′58″N 3°06′40″W / 50.9661°N 3.1110°W / 50.9661; -3.1110
Completed	c. 1300

The Church of St Andrew & St Mary is a historic church located in Pitminster, Somerset, England. It was built around the year 1300 and is considered a very important building, listed as a Grade I listed building. This means it has special historical or architectural value.

A Look at the Church's History

The church you see today was built about 700 years ago, around 1300. It stands on the same spot where an even older Saxon church once stood. In the 1400s, the church was made bigger.

Changes Over Time

Many years later, in 1869, the church was updated during a time called the Victorian restoration. A famous architect named George Gilbert Scott helped with these changes. He rebuilt parts like the north aisle (a side section) and the south porch (the entrance area). He also replaced some windows and rebuilt the arch leading to the main altar area.

Later, in 1937, the chancel (the part of the church where the altar is) was restored. The lady chapel (a special chapel) was also restored in 1979.

What the Church is Made Of

The church is mostly built from local stone, which is a type of rock found nearby. It also has special cut stones called "ham stone" for important parts. The roof is mostly made of slate, a flat type of rock. The spire (the tall, pointed top of the tower) and the south porch have lead roofs.

The Tower and Entrance

The church has a tower at its west end. This tower has two main sections. On top of the tower is an eight-sided spire covered in lead. The spire connects to the tower with a decorative stone railing. There are also openings for bells.

The main entrance, or porch, was built in the 1800s. It has a sloped roof and strong supports called buttresses. The doorway is decorated, and the church door itself has fancy hinges.

Hidden Stairs

Inside the church, you can see small towers with stairs on either side of the main arch. These stairs once led to a "rood loft." This was a high platform that held a "rood screen," which was a decorated screen separating the main part of the church from the altar area. These screens were mostly removed after the English Reformation, a time when religious practices changed in England.

Inside the Church

When you go inside, you'll notice the wooden benches, called pews. A few of these pews are from the 1500s, but most were added in the 1800s.

Special Features

The pulpit, where the priest gives sermons, is a beautiful example from the early 1600s. Above it is a "sounding board," which helps the speaker's voice carry through the church. This sounding board likely came from a school in Frome.

Near the organ, you can see special wooden panels carved with a design called "linenfold." It looks like folded linen cloth.

The font, used for baptisms, is from the 1400s. It has eight sides and is decorated with designs that look like four-leaf clovers, called "quatrefoils." Two of these carvings show Saint George and St James. Another carving shows Christ.

The lectern, a stand for reading from the Bible, is made of brass. It was placed there to remember William Amasa Copp, who passed away in 1901.

Stained Glass and Tombs

Some small pieces of original medieval stained glass can still be seen in an upper window of the lady chapel. Most of the other stained glass windows in the church are from the late 1800s and early 1900s.

The church also has special tombs with statues of members of the Colles family. This family owned the land in the 1500s and 1600s.

Recent Events

In early 2020, during the Coronavirus pandemic, the church experienced some damage to its historic features.

The church is part of the Anglican Church, which is the main church in England. It belongs to a group of churches in the Blackdown area, within the larger archdeaconry of Taunton.

See also

• List of Grade I listed buildings in Taunton Deane
• List of towers in Somerset
• List of ecclesiastical parishes in the Diocese of Bath and Wells