Church of St Mary & All Saints, Broomfield facts for kids

Church of St Mary & All Saints
General information
Town or city	Broomfield
Country	England
Coordinates	51°04′57″N 3°06′32″W / 51.0824°N 3.1088°W / 51.0824; -3.1088
Completed	16th century

The Church of St Mary & All Saints in Broomfield, Somerset, England is a very old and special building. It was mostly built in the 15th and 16th centuries. This church is so important that it has been named a Grade I listed building. This means it's a building of exceptional historical interest.

Discovering St Mary & All Saints Church

This historic church has many interesting parts that were built at different times. The south wall of the chancel, which is the area around the altar, was built around the year 1320. Later, in 1535, the north aisle was added. An aisle is a passage along the side of the church.

A Look Inside the Church

Inside the church, you can find some beautiful features. One special item is a stained glass window. This window was created by the famous company of William Morris. He was a very important artist and designer from the 19th century.

You can also see a large, old wooden chest from the 16th century. There is also an octagonal font from the 15th century. A font is a basin used for baptisms.

The Church Tower and Its Bell

The church has a tall, impressive tower with three sections. This tower was built around 1440. Inside the tower, there is a bell that is even older than many of the church's parts. This bell was made by a person named George Purdue in 1606. Imagine how many times that bell has rung over the centuries!

Andrew Crosse's Scientific Connection

One of the most unique things about this church is its connection to a local scientist named Andrew Crosse. He lived nearby at Fyne Court. Andrew Crosse was famous for his experiments with electricity. The church actually has his original laboratory table! This is where he carried out many of his exciting electrical tests.

In the churchyard, which is the area around the church, there is an obelisk built to remember Andrew Crosse. An obelisk is a tall, four-sided stone pillar that tapers to a pyramid shape at its top. It's a special way to honor his memory and his scientific work.

The Church Today

Today, the Church of St Mary & All Saints is still an active church. It is part of the Anglican parish. This parish includes Broomfield along with other nearby villages like West Monkton, Kingston St Mary, and Cheddon Fitzpaine. The church is part of the larger area known as the archdeaconry of Taunton.