St Mary's Church, Ilminster facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St Mary |
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| Location | Ilminster, Somerset, England |
| Built | 15th century |
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Listed Building – Grade I
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| Designated | 23 September 1950 |
| Reference no. | 383479 |
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The Church of St Mary is a very old church located in Ilminster, Somerset, England. It was built in the 15th century. This church is so important that it has been named a Grade I listed building. This means it's a special historical building that needs to be protected.
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History of the Church of St Mary
The town of Ilminster gets its name from two things: the River Isle and this big church, which people call The Minster. The church building is made from a type of stone called Hamstone. It was first built in the 1400s.
Over the years, the church has been repaired and updated many times. In 1825, William Burgess helped to fix it up. Later, in 1883, the chancel (the part of the church near the altar) was restored. More work was done between 1887 and 1889, and again in 1902.
Important Tombs and Founders
Inside the church, you can find some very old and important tombs. These include the tombs of the Wadham family. One tomb belongs to Sir William Wadham, who passed away in 1452. Another tomb is for Nicholas Wadham and his wife, Dorothy Wadham. They died in 1609 and 1618. Nicholas and Dorothy were very important because they helped start Wadham College, Oxford, a famous university college.
The Church Tower
The church's tower was built in the early 1500s. It stands two stories tall above the main part of the church, called the nave. The tower has three sections, with a small staircase tower in one corner.
The tower has thin supports called buttresses. These supports have fancy decorations at the top and a patterned edge. Each section of the tower has a tall window with two parts. These windows have beautiful stone patterns called tracery. The top parts of the windows have open stonework, while the bottom parts are solid. The staircase tower also has decorative lines and a small spire with a weathervane on top.
Church Organ
The Church of St Mary has a special musical instrument called a pipe organ. This organ has two keyboards, called manuals, and pedals that the organist plays with their feet. It has 19 different sounds, or "speaking stops," that can be used. You can find more details about this organ in the National Pipe Organ Register.
Church Bells
The tower of the church holds a set of 8 bells that can be rung together. This is called a "peal of bells." Some of these bells are very old!
- The 4th and 6th bells were made in 1611 and 1614 by George Purdue.
- The 5th bell was made in 1732 by Thomas I. Bilbie.
- The largest bell, called the tenor, was made in 1790 by William Bilbie. The Bilbie family was famous for making bells.
More to Explore
If you want to learn more about similar topics, you can check out these articles:
- List of Grade I listed buildings in South Somerset
- List of towers in Somerset
- List of ecclesiastical parishes in the Diocese of Bath and Wells
