Church of St Mary Magdalene, Ditcheat facts for kids

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Quick facts for kids Church of St Mary Magdalene
Church of St Mary Magdalene from the south-west
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Location	Ditcheat, Somerset, England
Country	United Kingdom
Denomination	Church of England
History
Status	Parish church
Founded	c. 824
Dedication	Mary Magdalene
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Heritage designation	Grade I listed
Designated	2 June 1961
Specifications
Bells	8
Tenor bell weight	24 long cwt 0 qr 4 lb (2,692 lb or 1,221 kg)
Administration
Parish	Ditcheat
Benefice	Fosse Trinity
Deanery	Shepton Mallet
Archdeaconry	Wells
Diocese	Bath and Wells
Province	Canterbury

The Church of St Mary Magdalene is an old and important church in the village of Ditcheat, Somerset, England. People believe there has been a church on this spot since the year 824! The building you see today got its grand look thanks to the Abbots of Glastonbury. It is considered a very special building, listed as Grade I by Historic England.

Discovering the Church's History
Church Design and Features
The Church Bells
Images for kids
See also

Discovering the Church's History

Early Beginnings: Before 1066

The very first church in Ditcheat was likely built around 824. We know this from an old book found in the 1930s. However, nothing from that original building remains today.

In 842, King Æthelwulf gave a large piece of land in Ditcheat to Eanulf, a local leader. This land included Ditcheat and a nearby village called Lottisham. When Eanulf died in 867, he gave the land to Glastonbury Abbey. The Abbey managed this land until 1539, when many monasteries were closed down.

Building Changes: 12th and 13th Centuries

In the 12th century, the old church was taken down and a new one was built. This new church was probably shaped like a cross, which was a common design back then. Parts of the tower and side sections (transepts) of the current church are from this 12th-century building.

In the 13th century, the church was dedicated to St Mary Magdalene. Before this, we don't know who it was dedicated to. Also, the eastern part of the church (the chancel) was rebuilt in a style called Early English Gothic.

More Changes: 14th and 15th Centuries

In the 14th century, the chancel was made taller. This was done by adding another row of windows right on top of the old ones. This makes it look like a two-story building from the outside.

Towards the end of the 15th century, the church had a big makeover. The old side sections and the main part of the church (nave) were rebuilt in the Gothic style. The tower was also made taller, and strong supports called buttresses were added to help hold it up. A beautiful, fancy ceiling called a fan vault was put inside the tower. A wooden screen (rood loft) was also added to separate the main church from the tower.

Tough Times: 16th and 17th Centuries

The church changed a lot again in the 16th and 17th centuries. The rood loft was removed. The church also suffered damage during the English Civil War. Like many churches, it was harmed by Oliver Cromwell's forces. They broke many stained glass windows and damaged other parts. This is why many windows in the church now have clear glass.

Modern Restorations: 18th to 21st Centuries

In 1753, a balcony was built at the back of the church. However, this was removed about 100 years later during a big restoration project from 1850 to 1860. During this time, new features like a decorative screen behind the altar (reredos) and new seating for the choir were added. A new organ was also installed in 1888.

In 1920, the church needed major repairs again. This work happened in three stages:

Stage 1 (1920-1924): The church bells were remade, and the tower and clock were repaired. This cost about £1,731.
Stage 2 (1924-1931): This was the biggest part. Floors, seating, walls, and heating were renewed. The roofs of the chancel and side sections were also repaired. This cost about £1,791.
Stage 3 (1931-1932): The roofs of the nave and south transept were restored. The decorative tops (pinnacles) and edges (parapets) were also fixed. This final stage cost £793.

During this work, a rare 13th-century wall painting (fresco) of St Christopher was found. It was carefully restored. The total cost for all these repairs was £4,315. The local community raised a lot of this money, and donations came from all over the world!

Even today, the church needs constant care. In 2016, some serious wood rot was found, and the south transept roof needed fixing. These repairs cost over £35,000.

Church Design and Features

How the Church is Laid Out

The church from the south-west in March 2020 during stormy conditions.

The Church of St Mary Magdalene is shaped like a cross. It has a main hall (nave) with side aisles, two side sections (transepts), and an eastern part (chancel). There's also a tower in the middle. A large porch on the south side looks almost like another transept. The church is built from a local stone called Blue Lias. It covers an area of about 499 square meters (5,371 square feet).

Outside the Church

The front of the church (west facade) is very grand. It has large windows separated by strong supports (buttresses). The roof edges are decorated with a battlement design. The main part of the church (nave) has windows higher up (clerestory) with decorative tops (pinnacles). The large south porch also has battlements, pinnacles, and gargoyles.

The north and south transepts are a bit lower than the nave and chancel. They also have battlements and pinnacles. The chancel, the eastern part, has two rows of windows, making it look like a two-story building. The lower windows are from the 13th century, and the upper ones are from the 14th century. The chancel's parapet (low wall at the roof edge) has carved shields instead of pinnacles. These shields show important people from the past, like bishops and abbots.

The central tower rises two stories above the roof. It has large corner buttresses that were added in the 15th century when the tower was made taller. You can still see where the old Norman roof used to be on the tower's western side. The tower has windows for the bells (belfry windows), a battlement, a weathervane, and a flagpole.

Inside the Church

The 13th and 14th century chancel, showing the geometrical tracery, and 19th century reredos and choir stalls.

The main hall (nave) has tall arches and narrow side aisles. Not much of the original stained glass is left here because it was broken during the English Civil War. The nave roof has strong wooden beams (tie-beams) from the late 15th century. You can still see where the old rood screen used to be above the tower arches. There's a beautifully carved wooden pulpit from the Jacobean era (early 1600s).

The Perpendicular Gothic fan vault underneath the tower.

The arches under the tower are slightly bent, which might mean the tower had problems in the past. Underneath the tower, there's a very fancy stone ceiling called a fan vault. This is a special feature of the Perpendicular Gothic style.

The south transept has several monuments, including a beautiful marble one from the 18th century. The north transept is mostly taken up by the organ. Both transepts have small openings called hagioscopes, which allowed people sitting there to see the altar.

The chancel is the most decorated part of the church. It has most of the remaining medieval stained glass. The windows have lovely geometric patterns. The chancel also has beautiful 19th-century fittings, including the choir stalls and the altar.

The organ, located in the north transept, was made in 1888. It has a wooden case and decorative pipes.

The Church Bells

The Church of St Mary Magdalene has a famous set of eight bells. In the 17th century, there were only four bells. Over time, more bells were added and old ones were recast.

In 1902, the bells were repaired and strengthened. The clock room floor was removed to give the bell ringers more space.

By 1918, two of the bells cracked. So, in 1920, a big project began to recast all six old bells and add two new ones, making a total of eight bells. This was a big and expensive job for the village. The old bells were carefully lowered through a special hatch and sent by train to a foundry (bell factory) in Loughborough.

In December 1920, the new bells were cast. They arrived back in Ditcheat in February 1921, along with a new cast iron frame to hold them. The frame was so big that some of the church's stonework had to be adjusted to fit it!

The new bells were officially dedicated on April 11, 1921. The first time all eight new bells were rung together was on May 14, 1921.

Since 1920, these bells have not needed major work. They are considered one of the best sets of eight bells in the world! Each bell is named after one of the Nine Fruits of the Spirit: 'Love', 'Joy', 'Peace', 'Longsuffering & Gentleness', 'Goodness', 'Faith', 'Meekness', and 'Temperance'. Many bell ringers from all over the world visit to ring these famous bells.

Images for kids

Church of St Mary Magdalene from the south-west
The church from the south-west in March 2020 during stormy conditions.
The 13th and 14th century chancel, showing the geometrical tracery, and 19th century reredos and choir stalls.
The Perpendicular Gothic fan vault underneath the tower.