Church of St Mary the Virgin, Batcombe facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St Mary the Virgin |
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| General information | |
| Town or city | Batcombe, Somerset |
| Country | England |
| Coordinates | 51°08′59″N 2°26′40″W / 51.1497°N 2.4444°W |
| Construction started | 15th century |
| Completed | 16th century |
The Church of St Mary the Virgin is an old and beautiful Anglican church located in Batcombe, Somerset, England. It was built a very long time ago, between the 15th and 16th centuries. This means it's over 400 years old! In the 1800s, it was carefully fixed up and made new again. Today, it's known as a Grade I listed building by English Heritage. This means it's a really important historical site that needs to be protected.
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About St Mary's Church
The Church of St Mary the Virgin is part of the local church community. It belongs to the Diocese of Bath and Wells, which is a large area of churches. The church helps people in the village of Batcombe to gather and worship.
Building Materials and Features
The church is made from a strong, light-colored rock called limestone. This stone came from the Doulting Stone Quarry, which is a famous place for getting building materials. The church has a tall tower with three openings for its bells.
The Bells of St Mary's
Inside the tower are six bells. These bells were made in 1760 by a famous bell-making family called the Bilbie family. They worked in a town called Cullompton. These bells have been ringing out over Batcombe for hundreds of years!
Inside the Church
When you go inside the church, you will see an eight-sided font. This is a special basin used for baptisms. The church also has beautiful stained glass windows. One window, at the eastern end of the south side, was put in around 1896. It was made by a company called Heaton, Butler and Bayne. Another important window, the east window, was created in 1930 by Archibald Keightley Nicholson.
A Special Grave
In the churchyard, there is a special grave. It belongs to a Royal Navy sailor who sadly died during World War I. This grave is looked after by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. It helps us remember those who served their country.
See also
- List of Grade I listed buildings in Mendip
- List of towers in Somerset
