St Mary's Church, Berrow facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Mary's Church, Berrow |
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| General information | |
| Town or city | Berrow |
| Country | England |
| Coordinates | 51°16′01″N 3°00′49″W / 51.2669°N 3.0135°W |
| Completed | 13th century |
The Church of St Mary is a very old church located in Berrow, a village in Somerset, England. It was first built way back in the 13th century, which means it's over 700 years old! Later, in the 1800s, it was carefully repaired and updated. This church is so special that it has been given a "Grade I listed building" status. This means it's considered a very important historical building that needs to be protected.
Contents
What is St Mary's Church?
Built to Last
The Church of St Mary is made from strong stone found in the local area. The main part of the church uses limestone from the Mendip Hills. For the fancy decorations, a different type of stone called Hamstone was used. The part of the church on the south side, called the south aisle, was added in the 15th century. It was later changed and updated during the Victorian times, which was in the 1800s.
The Church Tower
The church has a tall tower that was built in the 15th century. This tower has two main sections. Inside the tower, there are five bells. One of these bells was made in 1801 by a famous family of bell makers called the Bilbie family.
The tower is very tall and can be seen from the sea. Long ago, it was painted white. This made it act like a lighthouse, helping sailors find their way along the coast.
Inside the Church
When you go inside St Mary's Church, you can see some very old features. There are special stone basins called fonts that were used for baptisms. Some of these fonts date back to the 14th and 15th centuries, making them hundreds of years old!
Church Community
The Church of St Mary is part of the Anglican Church, which is the main church in England. It belongs to a group of churches called the Berrow and Brean benefice. This group is part of a larger area known as the archdeaconry of Wells.
See also
- List of Grade I listed buildings in Sedgemoor
- List of towers in Somerset
- List of ecclesiastical parishes in the Diocese of Bath and Wells
