St Mary's Church, Yatton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St Mary |
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View from the south-west
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| General information | |
| Town or city | Yatton |
| Country | England |
| Coordinates | 51°23′06″N 2°49′07″W / 51.3850°N 2.8185°W |
| Completed | 14th century |
The Church of St Mary in central Yatton, Somerset, England, is a very old and impressive church. People sometimes call it the Cathedral of the Moors because it's so big and grand for a village church. It's considered a really important historical building by English Heritage, which means it's a Grade I listed building. This special status helps protect it for the future.
Contents
Discovering St Mary's Church
A Long History
The church you see today was mostly built in the 14th century. That's a long time ago! But it's likely there was an even older church on this same spot before. Over the years, people added more parts to the church. For example, a chapel was built in 1496. Other changes and additions have been made since 1445, making the church what it is today.
The Impressive Tower
The tall central tower was built around 1400. It has three main sections. It also has strong supports called buttresses that lean against the walls. These buttresses have fancy decorations called crockets and pointed tops called pinnacles.
The Stair Turret and Spire
On the south-east side of the tower, there's a hexagonal stair turret. This turret goes higher than the main roof. It has decorated sides and an open, patterned top edge. What's special about this church is that a tall, pointed roof, called a steeple, was added in 1455–1456. This steeple was made from a type of stone called Dundry stone. Later, in 1595, builders were hired to make the steeple shorter, which is how it looks today.
The Church Bells
Inside the tower, there is a set of bells. These bells are rung for church services and special occasions. In 1991, the tower was damaged by a fire. Because of this fire, one of the bells, the fourth one, had to be melted down and made again.
The Old Rectory
Near the church, there is another very old building called the Old Rectory. This building is from the 15th century and is also a Grade I listed building. This means it's also a very important historical place.
See also
- List of Grade I listed buildings in North Somerset
- List of towers in Somerset
- List of ecclesiastical parishes in the Diocese of Bath and Wells
