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 in Berkley, Somerset, is a beautiful old church. It's part of the Church of England and was built way back in 1751. This church is so special, it's even called a Grade II* listed building. This means it's an important historical place.
Contents
A Look Back in Time: The Church's Story
The Church of St Mary is named after St Mary. It was built in 1751. A local landowner, Squire Thomas Prowse, who lived nearby at Berkley House, had it built.
What Does the Church Look Like?
This church is made of whitewashed stone. It has a tall tower on the west side. The roof is a special hip roof made of stone slates. There's even a glass dome, called a cupola, on the main part of the church (the nave). Both this dome and the church organ have been fixed up recently. Inside, you can see old chairs from the 1600s. The font (where baptisms happen), the pulpit (where sermons are given), and the seats (pews) are from the mid-1800s.
Exploring the Church Grounds
The walls and gate pillars around the church are also very old. They were built around the mid-1700s. The churchyard is a graveyard. It holds the graves of many local people. Some of the tombs are quite old and special. For example, William Hall's tomb is from 1670. It is made of Doulting Stone. Joseph Singer's tomb is made of Bath stone. It has names of his family from the 1700s and early 1800s.
The Church Today: Services and Community
The Church of St Mary is still an active church. It is a parish church. This means it serves the local community. It is part of a group of churches in the area. This group includes churches in Beckington, Standerwick, Lullington, Orchardleigh, and Rodden. The church follows the Conservative Evangelical tradition. This is a type of tradition within the Church of England.
When Can You Visit?
Church services happen every Sunday morning. On the third Sunday of each month, there is a special family service.
Local School Connection
The local school, Berkley CofE First School, is near the church. It was built around 1860. It is a voluntary aided school. This means it gets some funding from the government. It also gets support from the church.
See also
- List of ecclesiastical parishes in the Diocese of Bath and Wells
