Church of St Mary, Berkley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St Mary, Berkley |
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 Church of St Mary, Berkley
Location in Somerset
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| 51°14′37″N 2°16′19″W / 51.24361°N 2.27194°W | |
| Location | Berkley, Somerset |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Conservative Evangelical |
| History | |
| Status | Active |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Parish church |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* listed |
| Designated | 11 March 1968 |
| Completed | 1751 |
The Church of St Mary is a special old church in Berkley, Somerset, England. It is a Church of England parish church, which means it serves the local community. This church is considered very important because it is a Grade II* listed building, built way back in 1751.
Contents
History of the Church
The Church of St Mary was built in 1751. It was built by a person named Squire Thomas Prowse. He lived in the big house next door, called Berkley House.
What the Church Looks Like
The church is made of stone and is painted white. It has a tall tower on the west side. The roof is a hip roof with stone tiles. The main part of the church, called the nave, has a glass dome on top. This dome is called a cupola. Both the cupola and the church organ were fixed up a few years ago. Inside, you can see some very old chairs from the 1600s. The font (where baptisms happen), the pulpit (where sermons are given), and the pews (the church benches) are from the mid-1800s.
The Church Grounds
Around the church, there are old walls and gate posts. These were built around the same time as the church, in the mid-1700s.
The church also has a graveyard. Many local people are buried there. Some of the tombs are quite old and interesting. For example, there is a tomb for William Hall from 1670. It is made of a type of stone called Doulting Stone. Another tomb, made of Bath stone, belongs to Joseph Singer and his family from the 1700s and early 1800s.
The Church Today
Today, the Church of St Mary is still an active church. It is part of a group of churches in the area. These churches work together to serve their communities. The church follows the Conservative Evangelical tradition of the Church of England.
Church Services
The Church of St Mary holds services every Sunday morning. On the third Sunday of each month, there is a special family service. This service is designed to be enjoyed by people of all ages.
Local Village School
Near the church, there is a local school. It was built around 1860. This school is now called Berkley CofE First School. It is a voluntary aided school, which means it gets some funding from the government but also has support from the church.
See also
- List of ecclesiastical parishes in the Diocese of Bath and Wells
