Church of St Mary, Abbas and Templecombe facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Church of St Mary
Location	Templecombe, Somerset, England
Built	12th century
Listed Building – Grade II*
Official name: Church of St. Mary
Designated	24 March 1961
Reference no.	1366329
Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).

The Church of St Mary is a very old church in Templecombe, Somerset, England. It was built a long time ago, in the 12th century! This church is so special that it's listed as a Grade II* listed building. This means it's an important historic place.

What's the Story of St Mary's Church?

Long ago, a powerful person named Earl Leofwine owned land here. After the Normans took over England, he gave it to Bishop Odo of Bayeux. The church was likely started when the land belonged to Shaftesbury Abbey.

Knights Templar and Knights of St John

Later, the land was given to the Knights Templar. They were a famous group of warrior monks. In 1185, they set up a "preceptory" in the village. A preceptory was like a main office and training center. It helped them manage their lands in the south west of England. It might have also trained men and horses for the Crusades, which were religious wars.

After the Knights Templar were no longer active, the land went to the Knights of St John. They were another group of warrior monks. They kept the church until the Dissolution of the Monasteries. This was when King Henry VIII closed many monasteries and religious houses.

Changes Over Time

Some parts of the church today are still from the original 12th century building. But the church had a big makeover in the 1800s. This was called a Victorian restoration. During this time, the chancel (the area around the altar) was completely rebuilt. A vestry (a room for clergy robes) was also added. The very bottom parts of the tower might even be older, from the Saxon times!

Church Damage in World War II

During World War II, the church was damaged by bombs. Four bombs fell near the church on its south side. This hurt some of the arches inside the main part of the church, called the nave. The roof and tower were also damaged. Some windows broke, and the organ was harmed too.

What Does the Church Look Like?

The church is made of stone and decorated with Hamstone. This is a special type of yellowish-brown stone. The roofs are made of clay tiles. The church has a two-bay chancel and a four-bay nave. It also has a south transept, which is like a wing sticking out.

The Tower and Bells

You enter the church through a porch at the bottom of its two-stage tower. The strong supports on the outside, called buttresses, were added after the tower was built. The oldest bell in the tower was made around 1420! Two other bells are from 1656. Two more are from 1736, made by the famous Bilbie family of bell makers. The newest bell was added in 1891.

Churchyard Memorials

In the churchyard, there's a stone cross that is about 15 feet (4.6 meters) tall. This cross is a war memorial for the village. It remembers those who served. The churchyard also has four Commonwealth war graves. These are for two British Army soldiers from World War I. There's also an airman and a WRNS Petty Officer from World War II.

What's Inside the Church?

The font is where baptisms take place. It was made from Purbeck Marble in the 12th century. But its cover is newer, from 1897. The church also has special silver items called "church plate." These include a cup and cover from 1628. There are also two trays made in 1725 and a tall jug from 1845.

The Mysterious Templecombe Head

Inside the church, there is a painting of a head on wooden boards. This painting was found in 1945. It was in the roof of a small building next to a local cottage. The person living in the cottage was getting wood. She noticed a face above her where the ceiling had fallen. It was on a wooden panel, attached by wire, and had been covered with plaster.

People think the painting is from the 1200s. It might be connected to the Templecombe Preceptory of the Knights Templar. The painting was given to the church in 1956.

Restoration and Cleaning

When the painting was cleaned and fixed in the 1950s and 1980s, tiny gold stars were found. There was also evidence of bright colors that are no longer visible. The colors were there when it was found in the 1940s. But they faded when the local vicar tried to clean it in his bath with a strong cleaning product called Vim! Someone also added a keyhole and hinges to the painting a long time ago. This suggests it was once used as a door.

Who is the Head?

For many years, people have thought the head might be a picture of Christ. But it doesn't have a halo, which was usually shown in religious art back then. The Knights Templar were sometimes criticized for using images of Christ without a halo. Some people even wonder if the image is linked to the Shroud of Turin. Others believe the image is not Christ, but John the Baptist.

Images for kids

• 

  The Church of St Mary in Templecombe.