Church of St Mary the Virgin, Isle Abbotts facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St Mary the Virgin |
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| Location | Isle Abbotts, Somerset, England |
| Built | 13th century |
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Listed Building – Grade I
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| Designated | 17 April 1959 |
| Reference no. | 431776 |
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The Church of St Mary the Virgin is a very old and special church located in Isle Abbotts, a village in Somerset, England. It was first built way back in the 13th century, which means it's over 700 years old! Over time, parts of it have been repaired and updated. Because it's so important and historic, it's officially recognized as a Grade I listed building. This means it's one of the most important historical buildings in the country.
Contents
The Church Tower
The church has a tall and impressive tower made of stone. It has four main sections, one on top of the other.
Tower Design Details
The very top of the tower has a special wall called an embattled parapet. This wall looks like the top of a castle, with parts that stick up and parts that are cut out. These cut-out parts are shaped like quatrefoils, which are designs with four leaves. The parts that stick up, called merlons, have small, narrow openings shaped like lancet arches.
Pinnacles and Sculptures
The tower also has very large pointy decorations called pinnacles at each corner. These main pinnacles even have smaller pinnacles attached to them. There are also more pinnacles on each side of the tower.
On each side of the tower, there are special carved spaces called crocketted niches. Inside these niches, you can still see amazing medieval statues!
- West side: You can see a statue of the risen Christ stepping out of his tomb, the Blessed Virgin Mary holding baby Jesus, and statues of Saint Peter and Saint Paul.
- South side: There are statues of Saint George, Saint Catherine, and Saint Margaret.
- East side: You'll find statues of Saint John the Baptist and Saint Clement.
- North side: There's a statue of Saint Michael.
Repairing the Stone
Because the church has so many detailed carvings and sculptures, special care is needed to repair and protect them. Workers use traditional materials, like lime-based mixtures, to make sure the old stonework stays strong.
Hunky Punks
Look closely at the stonework and you might spot some interesting carvings called hunky punks. These are like gargoyles, but they don't spout water. Many of them have been damaged by the weather over hundreds of years. However, one of them still clearly looks like a person playing bagpipes!
See also
- List of Grade I listed buildings in South Somerset
- List of towers in Somerset
- List of ecclesiastical parishes in the Diocese of Bath and Wells
