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 in Ilminster, Somerset, England, is a really old and important church. It was built way back in the 15th century, which means it's over 500 years old! Because it's so special, it's been named a Grade I listed building, which is like saying it's a super important historical landmark.
Contents
Discovering the Church's Past
Ilminster gets its name from the River Isle and this big church, which people call The Minster. A "Minster" is a special type of church that was once part of a monastery or had an important role in the area.
This amazing building is made from Hamstone, a type of stone found locally. It was first built in the 1400s. Over the years, it's had some updates to keep it looking great. For example, it was fixed up in 1825 and again in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Important People: The Wadham Family
Inside the church, you can find the tombs of the Wadham family. These include Sir William Wadham, who passed away in 1452, and his mother.
Later, Nicholas Wadham and Dorothy Wadham were also buried here. They were very important because they helped start Wadham College, Oxford, a famous university college.
The Church Tower
The tower of St Mary's Church was built in the early 1500s. It stands two stories tall above the main part of the church. It has three main sections, with a special staircase tower in one corner.
The tower has slender supports called buttresses, which are decorated with fancy stone carvings. The top of the tower has a castellated parapet, which looks like the top of a castle wall. Each section of the tower has tall windows with stone patterns called tracery. The staircase tower has a small spire with a weathervane on top.
The Church Organ
The church has a pipe organ, which is a large musical instrument. It has two keyboards for the hands (called manuals) and pedals for the feet. This organ has 19 "speaking stops," which are like different sounds or voices the organ can make. You can find more details about this organ in the National Pipe Organ Register.
The Church Bells
The tower is home to a set of 8 bells that can be rung together. Some of these bells are very old! The 4th and 6th bells were made in the early 1600s by a person named George Purdue. The 5th bell was made in 1732 by Thomas I. Bilbie. The largest bell, called the tenor, was cast in 1790 by William Bilbie, who was part of the famous Bilbie family of bell makers.
See also
- 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
