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St Mary's Church, Berrow facts for kids

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St Mary's Church, Berrow
Berrow church.jpg
General information
Town or city Berrow
Country England
Coordinates 51°16′01″N 3°00′49″W / 51.2669°N 3.0135°W / 51.2669; -3.0135
Completed 13th century

The Church of St Mary in Berrow, Somerset, England is a very old church. It was built way back in the 13th century, which means it's over 700 years old! Later, in the 1800s, it was fixed up and made to look nice again. This church is so important that it's officially called a Grade I listed building. This means it's one of the most special historic buildings in England.

Discover St Mary's Church in Berrow

Building Materials and Design

The church is built from strong limestone rocks. These rocks come from the nearby Mendip Hills. For decoration, a special type of stone called Hamstone was used.

The south side of the church, called the south aisle, was added in the 15th century. However, it was changed and updated during the Victorian era. This was a time in history when Queen Victoria ruled England.

The Church Tower

The church has a tall tower with two main sections. This tower was built in the 15th century. Inside the tower, there are five bells. One of these bells was made in 1801 by Thomas and James Bilbie. They were part of the famous Bilbie family who made many bells.

You can see the church tower from the sea. Long ago, it was even painted white. This was so sailors could use it like a lighthouse to help them find their way.

Inside the Church

When you go inside the church, you can see some very old fonts. These are special bowls used for baptisms. Some of these fonts date back to the 14th and 15th centuries.

The Church Community

St Mary's Church is part of the Church of England. It serves the local area of Berrow and Brean. This area is called a 'benefice' and is part of the larger 'archdeaconry of Wells'.

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