Church of St Mary, Orchardleigh facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St Mary |
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| General information | |
| Town or city | Lullington |
| Country | England |
| Coordinates | 51°15′28″N 2°19′33″W / 51.2578°N 2.3259°W |
| Completed | 13th century |
The Church of St Mary is a very old church. It was built in the 1200s. You can find it on the beautiful Orchardleigh Estate in Somerset, England.
Contents
History of the Church
The Church of St Mary is special because it sits on an island. This island is in a large, man-made lake called Orchardleigh Lake. The lake is part of the Orchardleigh Estate near Lullington.
The church was first built in the 13th century, which means the 1200s. Later, in 1878, a famous architect named Sir George Gilbert Scott worked on it. He did a big "Victorian restoration," which means he repaired and updated many parts of the church. This was done for the Duckworth family, who owned the estate at that time.
Today, the church is a Grade I listed building. This means it is a very important historical building. It is protected because of its special history and architecture.
Old Features and a Moat
The church still has some amazing old features. You can see sculptures from the 1300s. It also has beautiful stained glass windows from the 1400s.
Around the year 1800, the estate owner, Thomas Champneys, added something unique. He had a moat dug all around the church. A moat is a deep, wide ditch, often filled with water, that was once used for protection.
Important Graves
Inside the church, you can find the grave of a famous poet. His name was Henry Newbolt. His wife, who was part of the Duckworth family, is also buried there.
The Church Today
The Church of St Mary is a popular place for weddings. It can hold up to 120 guests. To reach the church, you walk across a footbridge from the mainland.
There is also a public footpath nearby. This path crosses another bridge over the lake. It allows people to walk and enjoy the beautiful area.
The church does not have electricity. This means that services held there are lit by candles. The organ, which plays music, is also special. It has to be pumped by hand to make sound.
The church is part of the Anglican faith. It belongs to a group of churches called a benefice. This group includes churches in Beckington, Standerwick, Berkley, Rodden, and Orchardleigh.
Filming Location
The Church of St Mary has even been on television! In 1974, it was used as a place to film a show. The show was called "The Treasure of Abbot Thomas." It was a ghost story made by the BBC.
See also
- Grade I listed buildings in Mendip
- List of Somerset towers
- List of ecclesiastical parishes in the Diocese of Bath and Wells
