St Mary's Church, Meare facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St Mary |
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| General information | |
| Town or city | Meare |
| Country | England |
| Coordinates | 51°10′18″N 2°46′44″W / 51.1718°N 2.7789°W |
| Completed | 1323 |
The Church of St Mary is a very old and important church located in Meare, a village in Somerset, England. It was built way back in 1323 and used to be looked after by Glastonbury Abbey. A person named Abbot Adam of Sodbury had it built. Today, it's known as a Grade I listed building, which means it's a really special historical place.
The Church's Ancient Story
There's an old story about the Church of St Mary. People say it was built where a monk named Saint Beonna once lived. He was also known as Benen or Beon. This monk lived sometime between the 5th and 9th centuries. Later, his story sometimes got mixed up with another saint, Benignus of Armagh. In 1091, Saint Beonna's remains were moved to Glastonbury Abbey.
Building the Church
The main parts of the church, like the chancel (the area around the altar) and the tall tower, were built in 1323. This was when the church was officially opened and blessed by John Droxford. He was the Bishop of Bath and Wells at that time.
Around 1470, the nave (the main part of the church where people sit) was rebuilt. Abbot John Selwood started this work, and another Abbot, Richard Beere, finished it.
Inside the Church
The Church of St Mary has some interesting old features inside.
- It has a stone pulpit from the 15th century. This is where the priest gives sermons.
- There's a wooden chest that dates back to 1705.
- You can also see candelabra (fancy candle holders) from 1777.
- The church tower holds a set of six bells. These bells are rung together to make music.
Church Community
The Church of St Mary is part of a larger group of churches. It belongs to the benefice of Glastonbury. This includes St John the Baptist and St Benedict with Meare. This whole group is part of the Glastonbury deanery.
See also
- List of Grade I listed buildings in Mendip
- List of towers in Somerset
- List of ecclesiastical parishes in the Diocese of Bath and Wells
