St Mary's Church, Stogumber facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St Mary |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| General information | |
| Town or city | Stogumber |
| Country | England |
| Coordinates | 51°07′40″N 3°17′25″W / 51.1278°N 3.2903°W |
| Completed | late 13th century |
The Church of St Mary is an old and important church located in Stogumber, a village in Somerset, England. It was built a very long time ago, in the late 1200s. This church is so special that it has been given a "Grade I listed building" status. This means it's considered one of the most important historic buildings in England.
Contents
About the Church of St Mary
The Church of St Mary has a long and interesting history. It started as a Saxon minster, which was an important church that served a large area. It also had smaller churches, called chapelries, in places like Bicknoller. Other payments, called dues, came from properties in Monksilver, Clatworthy, and Elworthy.
History of the Church
The oldest parts of the church are its tower and the south porch. We know the tower was built around 1401 because someone left money for its construction in their will that year. The north aisle, which is a side section of the church, is believed to have been built by Cardinal Beaufort. He supposedly built it as a way to make up for some of his actions while staying at his hunting lodge, Halsway Manor.
The church is made of red sandstone. It was carefully repaired and updated in the 1870s. These updates were designed by an architect named John Dando Sedding. This type of repair work is often called a Victorian restoration.
A Look Inside
Inside the Church of St Mary, you can see several interesting features. There is a beautiful chandelier that was made around 1770. The font, which is used for baptisms, dates back to the 1400s. The church also has a stone pulpit, which is a raised platform where sermons are given.
The Churchyard and Nearby Buildings
The churchyard, which is the area around the church, holds a special place. It contains the war graves of two soldiers. These soldiers were Gunners who fought in World War I. Their graves are looked after by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
The Old Vicarage is a building near the church. It was built in the 1400s and is now a private home. Behind the vicarage, there is an old brewhouse. This building is also very old, dating back to the medieval period.
The Church of St Mary is part of a larger group of churches. This group is known as the Quantock Towers benefice, which is within the Quantock deanery.
See also
- Grade I listed buildings in West Somerset
- List of Somerset towers
- List of ecclesiastical parishes in the Diocese of Bath and Wells
