St Mary's Church, Bishops Lydeard facts for kids
The Church of St Mary is an old and important church located in Bishops Lydeard, a village in Somerset, England. This beautiful building was mostly built a long time ago, in the 14th and 15th centuries. It's so special that it's been given a "Grade I listed building" status, which means it's considered a very important historic building that needs to be protected.
Quick facts for kids Church of St Mary |
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| General information | |
| Town or city | Bishops Lydeard |
| Country | England |
| Coordinates | 51°03′41″N 3°11′14″W / 51.0614°N 3.1872°W |
| Completed | 14th century |
Contents
History of the Church
The Church of St Mary was built over many years. Most of it was finished in the 14th and 15th centuries. This means parts of it are over 600 years old!
Building Changes Over Time
In the years 1860 to 1862, the church was made a little bigger. An architect named Edward Jeboult added an extra section and a vestry. A vestry is a special room in a church. It's often used by the clergy (like priests) to get ready for services.
The Church Tower
The church has a tall tower that was built around the year 1497. This tower has some cool features. It has decorative stone railings at the top called battlements. There are also pointed decorations called pinnacles.
You can also see some interesting stone carvings on the tower. These are called hunky punks. They are like gargoyles but don't spout water. Many of them have been worn down by the weather. However, one of them still looks like a Sea serpent!
Recent Repairs
From 2010 to 2011, the church tower got a big makeover. This repair project lasted eleven months. It cost about £240,000 to fix up the tower. Special experts in historic buildings helped with the work.
Churchyard Features
The area around the church, called the churchyard, also has some interesting historical items.
Important Tombs
Many of the old tombs in the churchyard are very important. They tell us about the people who lived in the area long ago.
Ancient Crosses
There are also two old stone crosses in the churchyard. One of them is very old, dating back to the 14th century. The other cross used to be the town's market cross. It was moved to the churchyard in the 1800s.
