St Andrew's Church, High Ham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of Saint Andrew |
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| Location | High Ham, Somerset, England |
| Built | 1476 |
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Listed Building – Grade I
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| Designated | 17 April 1959 |
| Reference no. | 1227591 |
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The Church of Saint Andrew is an Anglican church in High Ham, Somerset, England. It stands on Turnhill Road. This church has parts from the 12th and 14th centuries. Most of it was rebuilt in 1476. It is a very important building. On April 17, 1959, it became a Grade I listed building. This means it is a building of special historical interest.
Contents
A Look Back: The Church's History
The Church of Saint Andrew was built in the Perpendicular style. This was a popular way to build churches in England. It used tall windows and strong vertical lines. An old message on a tomb says the church was rebuilt in 1474.
The main rebuilding happened in 1476. It took about one year to finish. John Selwood, who was the Abbot of Glaston, helped pay for it. He was also in charge of the church's land. The rector, John Dyer, built the main part of the church, called the chancel, in 1476.
Later, in 1598, another rector named Adrian Schall wrote a book about the church. In the 1800s, some parts of the church were fixed up. This work was done by John Norton.
Exploring the Church's Design
How the Church is Built
The Church of Saint Andrew has a special design. It has a main area called the nave and a chancel. There are also side areas called north and south aisles. A porch is at the south side. The church also has a tall tower at the west end.
The church is made from local stones. These include lias stone and hamstone. The main roofs are made of Welsh slate. They have fancy edges and walls with battlements, like a castle. The roofs over the aisles and porch are made of sheet lead.
The church tower is from the early 1300s. It has three levels and is quite wide. It has strong supports called buttresses. You can also see stone gargoyles on the corners.
The chancel was built in 1499. It has special stone edges and more gargoyles. It also has battlements and strong buttresses. The east window has five sections of glass. The north and south windows have three sections. The chancel roof has many carvings. These include rosettes and angels. A beautiful wooden screen separates the chancel from the nave.
The north aisle has similar features to the chancel. It has stone edges, gargoyles, and battlements. It also has buttresses and three-light windows. The nave was built in 1476. It has windows high up, letting in light. Some old stained glass from the 1400s is still in the east window. There are also windows from the late 1600s. The church has different types of doorways. One is small and almost triangular. Another is arched. There are also empty spots for statues.
Inside the Church: Furniture and Bells
Many of the wooden choir stalls are from the 1400s. Some of the pew benches are also very old. The pulpit and lectern are from the 1800s. There is a special stone basin called a stoup. It was used for holy water. The font is from the 1100s. It is shaped like a tulip bowl and lined with lead.
The church has five bells. They were made in different years: around 1500, 1641, 1763, 1795, and 1877. On the floor of the chancel, there is a brass plate. It honors John Dyer, the rector who paid for the chancel to be rebuilt. He died in 1499.
The Churchyard and Its Monuments
The churchyard has several important old structures. These were listed as Grade II buildings on February 7, 1986.
- The Gillet Monument is a large stone tomb. It has a tall, pointed stone on top. It was built in the late 1700s. You can find it about 17 meters southwest of the church tower.
- The Swain Travers Monument is another tomb. It is a chest-shaped tomb from the 1800s. It might have been an older tomb that was used again. It is located just east of the chancel.
- There is also an unknown monument from the late 1600s. It is south of the chancel.
The churchyard also has parts of its old walls. One part of the east wall is about 15 meters south of the church. It connects to Ham Court. Another important part is the south boundary wall. It is also about 15 meters south of the church. This wall has old wrought iron railings. They have a cross or Fleur-de-lis pattern on top.
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
