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 was once a church in East Lydford, Somerset, England. It belonged to the Church of 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 historic building, called a Grade II listed building.

Why a New Church Was Built

The Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary was built to replace an older church. This old church was from the Middle Ages. It was dedicated to St Peter. By the mid-1800s, the old church was falling apart. It was also very uncomfortable.

Flooding Problems at the Old Church

The old church was located near a river. This meant it often flooded. In the winter of 1863, there was a lot of rain. During a church service, the fields around the church flooded. People had to leave by cart because they couldn't walk home. This showed that a new, safer church was needed.

A Special Gift for the Village

The local church leader, Rev. John James Moss, offered to pay for a new church. He wanted to build it all by himself. This new church would be a memorial for his wife, Louisa Mary Anne. She had passed away in 1863.

On September 22, 1864, everyone agreed to his offer. The first stone of the new church was laid on October 5, 1864. This important step was done by Sir Edward Cust, who was Mrs. Moss's father. The new church was built on land owned by Rev. Moss. This spot was also closer to the center of the village.

Building and Opening the New Church

The church was designed by Benjamin Ferrey. He was an architect from London. A builder named Mr. Davis from Langport constructed the church. It cost about £2,000 to build.

The new church was officially opened on April 11, 1866. The Bishop of Bath and Wells, Robert Eden, led the special ceremony.

Why the Church Closed Down

The Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary closed in 1987. It was officially declared "redundant" on January 1, 1989. By 1987, the church was only used once a month. It was also used for a few special events.

The church needed a lot of repairs, costing around £35,000. Also, many local people preferred going to the Church of St Peter nearby.

In 1989, there was a risk that the church might be torn down. However, it was sold to a private owner in 1993. The local council, Mendip District Council, added it to their list of historic buildings at risk. In 2011, they noted that the building might have "structural problems." This meant it was at risk of getting worse quickly.

What the Church Looked Like

The Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary was built using Keinton stone. It had special Doulting stone decorations and tile roofs. It was built in the Early English style, which is a type of Gothic architecture.

Inside the Church Building

The church was designed to hold 100 people. It had a main area called a nave. It also had a chancel, which is the area near the altar. There was a porch on the south side and a tower on the north side. The space under the tower was used as a vestry (a room for changing robes) and an organ loft.

The top part of the tower was shaped like an octagon. It had a tall spire that reached 100 feet high. On top of the spire was a decorative cross and a golden weathercock. The floor of the nave was covered with special patterned tiles from Maw & Co. The open roof was made from stained wood.

Church Furnishings and Art

Inside, the church had wooden seats made from stained wood. The oak pulpit, where sermons were given, was moved from the old church. The seats in the chancel and the reading desk were made from oak.

The font, which is used for baptisms, was made of Caen stone. It was a gift from Captain and Mrs. Chas Egerton. They gave it in memory of 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 fittings were moved to St Peter's Church in Lydford-on-Fosse.