Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, West Chinnock facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary |
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Church of England |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Active |
| Location | |
| Location | West Chinnock, Somerset, England |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Charles Kirk |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Architectural style | Early English style |
| Completed | 1890 |
| Materials | Hamstone |
The Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary is an old Church of England church. You can find it in West Chinnock, a village in Somerset, England. This church first started in the 1200s. However, most of what you see today was rebuilt between 1889 and 1890. The new design was created by Charles Kirk. It is a special building, listed as a Grade II listed building. Today, it is part of a group of churches called the Ham Hill Churches Benefice.
Contents
Church History: A Journey Through Time
The Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary has a long history. It dates back to the 13th century, which is the 1200s. The first known leader, called a rector, was Rev. John de Kirkeby in 1293.
Growing the Church: Early Changes
Over the years, the church needed more space. It was made bigger in 1821 and again in 1827. Around 1876, people wanted to fix up the church. But they didn't have enough money, so the plans stopped. The rector at that time, Rev. Christian Frederick Newell, also felt the church wasn't set up well.
A New Beginning: Rebuilding the Church
In 1889, something important happened. A kind lady named Mrs. Sarah Woodcock from West Chinnock gave £800 to rebuild the church. This generous gift made people excited. A meeting was held in May 1889 to talk about the project. The people living in the area promised another £760. The total cost was expected to be around £2,180.
The Earl of Ilchester, who owned a lot of land, gave £300. The Bishop of Bath and Wells, Right Rev. Lord Arthur Hervey, also approved the plan and gave money.
Building the New Church
The new church was built by Charles Trask from Norton-sub-Hamdon. He followed the plans made by Charles Kirk from Sleaford. The last church services in the old building were on July 28, 1889. The very next day, workers started taking out the seats to get ready for tearing it down.
While the new church was being built, people went to the nearby National Schoolroom for Sunday afternoon services and baptisms. For Holy Communion and weddings, they went to churches in Chiselborough or Middle Chinnock.
Important Milestones
Mrs. Woodcock laid the main corner stone during a special event on October 8, 1889. The builders tried to keep the chancel (the part of the church near the altar) as much as possible. This was because it had special features from the 13th century. The old tower was taken down and rebuilt further west. This allowed the main part of the church to be made bigger. Some stones from the old church were used to build the new tower. The new church officially opened on July 24, 1890. The Bishop of Bath and Wells also blessed the larger churchyard that day.
Church Design: What It Looks Like
St Mary's Church is built from a type of stone called Hamstone. Its roofs are covered with Welsh slate.
Parts of the Church
The church has several main parts:
- A nave (the main area where people sit).
- North and south aisles (passageways on the sides).
- A chancel (the area around the altar).
- A west two-stage tower (a tall structure at one end).
- A vestry (a room for clergy and church items) inside the tower, below the belfry (where the bells are).
The tower is about sixty feet tall. It has a weathervane on top. Inside the tower are four bells. Three of these bells came from the old church. Two of them were melted down and reshaped during the rebuilding in 1889–90. The fourth bell was brand new. Mrs. Woodcock gave it to remember Abraham and Isaac Ford. The new bell and the reshaping of the old ones were done by Messrs Taylor from Loughborough. The church roof is open and made of Memel timber. Its main beams are supported by carved pieces and round-shaped ribs.
Beautiful Details: Stained Glass and Fittings
Some of the beautiful stained glass windows added in 1889–90 were gifts from people who wanted to remain anonymous. The stained glass in the south window was given by Mr. Richard Hayward of West Chinnock to remember his grandfather. Mrs. Woodcock gave the stained glass in the chancel's south-east window to remember the Ford family. The church still has its original 13th-century piscina (a basin for washing sacred vessels) and sedilia (seats for clergy) in the chancel.
Many new items were put into the rebuilt church, and most were gifts:
- Major Hayward gave the oak altar table and the reredos (a decorated screen behind the altar). The reredos was made of Ancaster stone with marble columns.
- Mr. Thomas March of Newton gave the oak altar chairs to remember John Patten of West Chinnock.
- The choir stalls (seats for the choir) and the reading desk are made of oak.
- The pulpit (where sermons are given) is made of Doulting stone. It was a gift from Misses E. and M. Hayward of London to remember Thomas Carlyle Hayward.
- The font (a basin for baptisms) was a gift from the architect himself. It is made of Ancaster stone with a marble column and a Doulting stone base.
Churchyard Changes
During the 1889–90 rebuilding, the churchyard was also changed. It was made bigger and had a new Hamstone wall built around it. To make the churchyard larger, two small houses on the east side and one on the west side were taken down. The house on the west side was a gift from the Earl of Ilchester.
