Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, East Lydford facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Religion
Affiliation	Church of England
Ecclesiastical or organizational status	Closed
Year consecrated	1866
Location
Location	East Lydford, Somerset, England
Architecture
Architect(s)	Benjamin Ferrey
Architectural type	Church

The Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary is an old Church of England church. It is located in a village called East Lydford in Somerset, England. A famous architect named Benjamin Ferrey designed it. The church was built between 1864 and 1866. It stopped being used as a church in 1989. Today, it is owned by a private person and is a special Grade II listed building. This means it's an important historical building.

Why a New Church Was Built

The Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary was built to replace a much older church. The old church was from the Middle Ages and was dedicated to St Peter. By the mid-1800s, this old church was falling apart. It was also too small and uncomfortable for the people.

Another big problem was its location. The old church was built near a river, which meant it often flooded. In the winter of 1863, there was a lot of rain during a church service. The fields around the church became so flooded that people had to be taken home by cart!

Building the New Church

The local church leader, Reverend John James Moss, wanted to help. He offered to pay for a brand new church all by himself. He wanted it to be a special memory for his wife, Louisa Mary Anne, who had passed away in 1863.

Everyone agreed to his kind offer at a meeting on September 22, 1864. The first stone of the new church was laid on October 5, 1864. Mrs. Moss's father, Lieutenant-General Sir Edward Cust, helped lay the stone. The new church was built on land owned by Reverend Moss. This spot was also more in the center of the village.

The church was designed by Benjamin Ferrey, an architect from London. A builder named Mr. Davis from Langport constructed it. The whole project cost about £2,000. The church was officially opened and blessed by the Bishop of Bath and Wells, Robert Eden, on April 11, 1866.

Why the Church Closed

The Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary closed its doors in 1987. It was officially declared "redundant" (meaning no longer needed for its original purpose) on January 1, 1989. By 1987, the church was only used once a month for services and on a few special days.

The building also needed a lot of repairs, which were estimated to cost £35,000. Many local churchgoers preferred to go to the Church of St Peter in Lydford-on-Fosse instead.

In 1989, there was a risk that the church might be torn down. However, it was sold to a private owner in 1993. That same year, it was added to the Mendip District Council's list of Historic Buildings at Risk. In 2011, the building was thought to have "structural problems." This meant it was at risk of getting worse very quickly.

Church Design and Features

The Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary is built from a type of stone called Keinton stone. It has special decorative parts made from Doulting stone and a tile roof. It was built in the Early English style, which is a type of old English architecture.

The church was designed to hold 100 people. It has a main area called a nave, a special area for the altar called a chancel, a porch at the front, and a tower on the north side. The space under the tower was used as a vestry (a room for changing clothes) and for the organ. The top of the tower is shaped like an octagon and has a tall spire. The spire is 100 feet tall and has a fancy cross and a golden weathercock on top.

Inside, the main floor of the nave was covered with colorful tiles from Maw & Co. The open roof was made from stained wood. The church seats were also made from stained wood. The oak pulpit, which is where the preacher stands, was moved from the old church. The special seats in the chancel and the reading desk were made of oak.

The font, which is a basin used for baptisms, was made of Caen stone. It was a gift from Captain and Mrs. Chas Egerton to remember their two young children. The beautiful stained glass window at the east end was made by Heydon of London. When the church closed, most of its important items were moved to St Peter's Church in Lydford-on-Fosse.