East Brent Burnham-on-Sea Porlock Bay A39 Oare 19 Porlock Culbone B3358 Minehead 1 Exmoor National Park Simonsbath Old Cleeve Dunster 26 Cannington Exford Bicknoller 17 18 Wheddon Cross Nettlecombe A39 2 Monksilver Crowcombe Stogumber 7 25 A396 B3223 Goathurst 12 33 West Bagborough B3188 B3224 A399 9 Broomfield 3 Bishop’s Lydeard 13 22 B3190 A361 Brushford Milverton B3227 5 Stawley 24 Bampton 32 A378 Beercrocombe 26 A361 Witheridge B3137 A377 A396 Tiverton 27 Tiverton Parkway 6 A303 5m 10 km Blackdown Hills A378 Long Sutton A30 Yarcombe A358 Chard B3165 Bicknoller The intimate interior Kingsbury Episcopi of Bicknoller St George. Martock Barrington A358 Uffculme Willand B3168 2 M5 Churchstanton Huish Episcopi Muchelney B3170 Chulmleigh Curry Rivel 25 Trull 30 A303 Bicknoller, St GeorgeA3088 South Petherton ● The small church with Norton-subits compact Hamdon tower dates in part from the 12th Seavington century and was extensively rebuilt in the 15th and 16th A356 centuries. There wasHinton extensive restoration in the St George Victorian era. There are vivid carvings of angels and animal heads inside A30church. A 20th century Archbishop the Crewkerne of Canterbury, William Temple, was a regular holidaymaker in the village; a plaque commemorates this. Getting around the area A396 ● Under each church, the postcode is given to allow satellite navigation systems to be used. There is also an indication of the nearest one or two railway stations. Information is also provided about cycle routes that form part of the nationally or regionally designated network. Bus information is more likely to change during the lifetime of the map and has therefore not been given, but up-to-date information is available at www.somerset.gov.uk/timetables. Access to the churches All the churches in this guide are normally open to the public. The Diocese of Bath & Wells All the churches featured in this guide are part of the Church of England Diocese of Bath & Wells. The diocese serves 900,000 people across almost 500 parishes. The diocese is grateful to the churchwardens and other parochial church council representatives, who have helped to ensure the accuracy of information in this guide. However, any errors are the responsibility of the compiler, and should be drawn to the attention of [email protected]. Websites Website references under individual churches refer only to those sites that add more information on a church’s history, and are local. National sites worth visiting include www.achurchnearyou.com for more historical information and the excellent www.churches-uk-ireland.org called The Churches of Britain and Ireland, where Steve Bulman maintains a magnificent collection of church photographs. “Discover Somerset Churches” maps This guide is one of four; the complete set is • 1.Bath, North Mendip and Weston-super-Mare • 2.South Mendip and South East Somerset • 3.The Moors, the Levels and the Parrett Estuary • 4.Upland West Somerset April, 2014 Designed by David Myring www.graphicbubble.co.uk M5 A30 Discover Somerset Churches A35 Upland West Somerset MAP 4 A356 Nearest railway stations – Stogumber [WSR]; Taunton [NR] (12 miles) Directions – Bicknoller is just north east of the A358 from Taunton to Williton, Church Lane is off the main road. Postcode – TA4 4EL 3 A350 Nearest railway stations – Bishops Lydeard [WSR]; Taunton [NR] (5 miles) Directions – Bishops Lydeard is just north-west of Taunton and east of the A358 to Minehead. St Mary’s is in Church Street, which is a continuation of High Street. Postcode – TA4 3AT 4 Castle Cary Broomfield, St Mary & All Saints ● The church was built in the 15th and 16th centuries; the three-stage tower is from c1440. The original waggon roofs remain. There is some stained glass by William Morris’s company. Nearest railway stations – Taunton (5 miles) Directions – Broomfield is on an unclassified road, due north of Taunton and south of Hawkridge reservoir. Postcode – TA5 2EQ A350 A303 Mere Minehead, St Andrew The unequivocal Victorian Gothic style of Minehead St Andrew. Wincanton Nearest railway stationsGillingham – Crowcombe Exmoor, west of the A396 Minehead – A350 road. It is on the B3224, as is the Heathfield [WSR]; Taunton [NR] (9 miles) Tiverton Directions – Crowcombe is north-west of church at the eastern end of the village. Taunton, just east of the A358 Minehead Postcode – TA24 7LX road. The church is somewhat outside Website – www.exford.org A30 Shaftesbury Templecombe the village, on the road to Triscombe. Postcode – TA4 4AP Website – www.quantockonline.co.uk Goathurst, St Edward Milborne Henstridge A359 Nearest railway station – Taunton Port (7 miles); Honiton (9 miles) A37 Directions – Churchstanton lies between Stalbridge 9 Dulverton, All Saints the M5 to the north and A303 to the south, and is almost in Devon. The church Sturminster is over a mile from the main village area. ● The c1500 extensively A357church wasNewton Postcode – TA3 7QE rebuilt in 1855 in Perdendicular style. A3030 The two-stage tower is probably 13th century. The oak rood screen is modern 7 Crowcombe, Holy Ghost (1902), but in traditional style. Shillingstone Yetminster A352 Sutton Bingham ● This is thought to be the only Anglican church in the country with this dedication. The tower is squat and had a spire but lost it in a lightning strike in 1724. The top section is displayed in the A37 churchyard. The interior is impressive, with one of Somerset’s best Perpendicular fonts, and delightful 16th century benchends, on which carvings of Green men abound. The rood screen and pulpit are early 18th century. Nearest railway stations – Tiverton Parkway (12 miles) Nearest cycle routes – national route 3 Directions – Dulverton is in the heart of Exmoor. The church stands at the end of Bank Square, in the middle of the town, on a hill. Postcode – TA22 9DW 5m 10 km 10 Dunster, St George ● The church was part of a Benedictine Priory in Norman times and, immediately north of the church, the delightful, former cloister garden remains. Much of the present church is Perpendicular. The townspeople, as part of a dispute with the monastic authorities, constructed what is claimed to be the longest screen in any English church, continuously across the nave and aisles; it dates from about 1500. Bishops Lydeard, St Mary the Virgin ● The handsome tower, built in about 1450, is one of the earliest of the Taunton group. The Victorians restored the interior extensively, but a fine 16th century screen remains. More recently, Ninian Comper contributed altars and a reredos with gilded canopy. Buckland Dinham A37 ● This is a delightful church, ‘unmodernised’ A303 since work in about 1800; it still has box pews and aQueen west gallery, the front of the Yeovilton latter being Camel made up of 16th century benchIlchester ends. Much of the glass is clear, but some medieval, painted fragments remain. Tintinhull B3165 A3072 A362 Mells A371 Churchstanton, North St Peter & St PaulCadbury 6 Langport North Curry 28 29 Brushford, A39 St Nicholas B3153 Somerton A358 Kilmersdon ● There is a Lutyens-designed chapel,Leigh-upon -Mendip Chantry a memorial to Aubrey Herbert, a local MP and diplomat, much involved in Dinder securing Albanian independence and A361 Croscombe allegedly twice offered the chance to be that country’s king! There is a fine, B3136 A359 c1500 chancel screen, and a Norman A371 North Wootton font of Purbeck marble. Pilton B3151 High Ham M5 Kingston St Mary Raddington B3222 24 North Petherton 4 Wiveliscombe Dulverton B3227 Quantock Hills B3139 Hemington Nearest railway stations – Minehead Batcombe [WSR]; Taunton [NR] (24 miles) A361 A37 West Nearest cycle routes – regional route 51 Pennard Nearest railway stations – Tiverton East Evercreech Directions – St Michael’s is in Church Parkway (11 miles) Pennard Street, which leaves the A39 in Alcombe, Nearest cycle routes – national route 3B3081 A39 on the eastern edge of Minehead. Directions – BrushfordDitcheat lies west of the Postcode – TA24 6BL B3222 which in turn is off the A396. Bruton Hornblotton The church is in Brushford New Street. Redlynch Postcode – TA22 9AP Alford Website – www.brushfordparish.com B3081 23 B3190 A361 old, and was a chapel of ease, initially in Dunster parish, although Alcombe is nowadays moreB3151 an eastern suburb of Minehead. There are notable Arts and Crafts features. A39 Williton Norton A37 A367 ● This church is just over 100 years B3139 Stogursey 31 20 10 B3224 11 Watchet Alcombe Stoke Pero A371 Wedmore West Huntspill 14 15 16 A39 27 B3223 Selworthy 22 Chewton Mendip Mendip Hills 5 Alcombe,Rodney St Michael Stoke the Archangel 1 Bridgwater Bay National Nature Reserve 23 21 8 Cheddar © MIKE BERRELL Lynton B3140 Brent Knoll Axbridge A38 Culbone An Exmoor rhyme said that Culbone was one of three churches to which ‘no priest will go’. 8 Culbone, St Bueno ● St Bueno’s is said to be the smallest (in floor area) church still in regular use in England. The candlelit church has variously been adjacent leper and French prisoner colonies. There is a small 19th century spire atop the 35ft long combined nave and chancel. A windiw and the font bowl suggest the church has Saxon origins. Nearest railway stations – Minehead [WSR]; Barnstaple [NR] (19 miles) Nearest cycle routes – regional route 51 Directions – This church is not accessible by car. Drivers should turn off the A39 up a track opposite The Culbone pub and park where they can, before walking about 1.5 miles through the walnut and oak trees of Withycombe Wood. Postcode – TA24 8JR Nearest railway stations – Dunster [WSR]; Taunton [NR] (23 miles) Nearest cycle routes – regional route 51 Directions – Dunster is south-east of Minehead. Road access is via the A396, which is off the A39. At the south end of the High Street, the road takes a sharp turn and becomes Church Street. Postcode – TA24 6SH Church website – www.stgeorgesdunster.co.uk 11 Exford, St Mary Magdalene ● The original dedication, to the Celtic St Salvyn, reflects the fact that this part of Somerset was converted to Christianity by missionaries from Wales or Ireland. The medieval south aisle is said to have been paid for by a local blacksmith. The church, which has a three-stage tower, has been rebuilt a number of times, and there is a new bell-ringers gallery. Nearest railway stations – Umberleigh (18 miles); Kings Nympton (18 miles) Nearest cycle routes – national route 3 Directions – the village is in the heart of 12 King & Martyr ●A350 The church, with its rare dedication, dates from the 14th century, but in its current form is largely Perpendicular from the 15th and 16th. The church was damaged by a great storm in 1703. Restoration in 1884 saw the 1707 gallery and a wall between an aisle and the north chapel removed. The A350 is noted for its monuments – one by church the fine, late 18th century sculptor, Joseph Nollekens – to the Tynte and Wharton families, and for 18th century wall panels. Nearest railway station – Bridgwater (4 miles) Nearest cycle routes – national route 3 Directions – On unclassified roads in Goathurst, 4 miles south-west of Bridgwater. 13 Kingston St Mary, the Blessed Virgin Mary ● The tower is c1490 and includes decorative carvings of figures called ‘hunky punks’ on its highest corners. The porch, with a fine fan-vaulted roof, is about thirty years newer. There are more recent features of note too, including a pulpit and brass chandelier both from the 18th century, and a 19th century, Edward Burne-Jones window in the west end of the north aisle. Nearest railway stations – Taunton (3 miles) Nearest cycle routes – national route 3 Directions – the village is about three miles due north of Taunton on an unclassified road. Within Kingston, Church Lane runs north-east off Taunton Road. Postcode – TA2 8HR Website – www.kingston-st-mary.org.uk 14 Minehead, St Andrew ● The church was consecrated in 1880, and represents a late but fine example of the work of George Street, a leading exponent of the Victorian Gothic revival, who designed the Royal Courts of Justice in The Strand, London. St Andrew’s has some glass from the studios of Charles Eamer Kempe (d1907) Nearest railway stations – Minehead [WSR]; Taunton [NR] (24 miles) Nearest cycle routes – regional route 51 Directions – in the centre of town, at the junction of Friday Street, The Avenue and Park Street in Wellington Square. Postcode – TA24 5LJ 17 Monksilver, All Saints 30 Trull, All Saints The Churches Conservation Trust The trust is a registered charity which maintains many Anglican churches no longer required for frequent, communal worship. The following CCT churches in Somerset are normally open during daylight hours: Nearest stations – Stogumber [WSR]; Taunton [NR] (14 miles) Directions – Monksilver is due south of Williton and the A39. The church is in the High Street. Postcode – TA4 4HY St Martin of Tours, Elworthy • St Mary’s, Stocklinch Ottersey, Ilminster, TA19 9JN • Holy Saviour’s, Puxton, Hewish, Weston-super-Mare, BS24 6TF • All Saints’, Otterhampton, Bridgwater, TA5 2PT • St Mary’s, Hardington Bampfylde, Pillar Lane, Frome, BA11 2RE • Blessed Virgin Mary, Chapel Hill, Emborough, Wells, Somerset, BA3 4SG • St Martin of Tours, Silverdown Hill, Elworthy, Taunton, TA4 3PY • St James’, Cameley, Temple Cloud, Bristol, Somerset, BS39 5AH. Full details of these churches, the eleven others the trust maintains in Somerset and those it has further afield are available on their website, www.visitchurches.org.uk Minehead, St Michael A welcome landmark for mariners – Minehead St Michael. Nearest railways stations – Tiverton Parkway (8 miles) Nearest cycle routes – national route 3 Directions – the church is across a field on a hillside. Raddington is north of the B3227 Wiveliscombe – Bampton road. Postcode – TA4 2QW 15 Minehead, St Michael ● St Michael’s is a 14th century church, with a 15th century tower. There is a notable rood screen. Its position high above the town means it has traditionally helped to guide mariners into the harbour. Nearest railway stations – Minehead [WSR]; Taunton [NR] (24 miles) Nearest cycle routes – regional route 51 Directions – the church is up North Hill and round the hairpin bend by the war memorial Postcode – TA24 5JW 16 Minehead, St Peter ● St Peter’s is a quayside church, created out of a former 17th century salt store in 1910. It retains close links with the town’s maritime community. Nearest railway stations – Minehead [WSR]; Taunton [NR] (24 miles) Nearest cycle routes – regional route 51 Directions – on the harbour, next to the Old Ship Aground tavern. Postcode – TA24 5UL Nettlecombe The close relationship of Nettlecombe church and the adjacent Nettlecombe Court manor house is well shown here. Nettlecombe, St Mary 18 the Virgin ● Work began on building a chantry chapel in 1443. The north aisle and porch were built in about 1530. Nearest railway stations – Washford [WSR]; Taunton [NR] (15 miles) Directions – the B3190 runs south of the A39 before splitting, the eastern part then becoming the B3188. Nettlecombe’s church lie between these two ‘B’ roads. Postcode – TA4 4HT Website – www.nettlecombewestsomerset.co.uk Minehead, St Peter The maritime influence is clear inside Minehead St Peter. 23 Selworthy, All Saints Porlock Porlock’s distinctive, storm-damaged spire. 19 Oare, St Mary ● It was at the steps of this 15th century church’s altar that the eponymous heroine of Lorna Doone was shot by Carver Doone during her marriage to John Ridd. There is a memorial to Lorna Doone’s creator, R. D. Blackmore. The church has been much restored externally. Inside, there are 18th century box pews and a pulpit of similar age. Nearest railway stations – Barnstaple (18 miles) Nearest cycle routes – regional route 51 Directions – New Road and then Hookway Hill lead south from the A39 to Oare. Postcode – EX35 6NX 20 Old Cleeve, St Andrew ● The current church is largely 13th century with many subsequent additions. The western tower was added in c1533. There was restoration work, particularly in the chancel, in the 19th century, and the east window behind the altar is by Ninian Comper. Nearest railway station – Washford [WSR]; Taunton [NR] (16 miles) Directions – Old Cleeve is south-west of Watchet and North of the A39. Postcode – TA24 6HJ Church website – www.standrewoldcleeve.org.uk 21 Porlock, St Dubricius ● St Dubricius was a 6th century, Welsh ecclesiastic, venerated as a saint. The church is 13th century. There is a particularly fine alabaster tomb, that of John Harington, who fought alongside Henry V in France. The short spire was damaged by a storm in 1703. A much more recent reredos is by W H Randoll Blacking, a pupil of Ninian Comper. Nearest railway stations – Minehead [WSR]; Taunton [NR] (30 miles) Nearest cycle routes – regional route 51 Directions – The A39 runs through Porlock. The church is in the village centre. Postcode – TA24 8QJ 22 Raddington, St Michael ● The tower is 13th century, was restored late in the 17th and rendered in the 20th. There is evidence of medieval wall painting beneath the plaster of the nave walls. The painted rood screen is particularly fine. ● All Saints enjoys a stunning setting, on Selworthy Beacon, the effect accentuated by the whitewashed appearance of the church. The most notable interior feature is the south aisle waggon roof, which dates from the 1530s. There is still a west gallery, albeit now housing the organ. There is a Pre-Raphaelite, coloured leather reredos, by a local artist, Philip Burgess. Nearest railway stations – Minehead [WSR]; Taunton (27 miles) Nearest cycle routes – regional route 51 Directions – Selworthy is between the A39 and the coast. The church is above the village green. Postcode – TA24 8TR 24 Stawley, St Michael & All Angels ● The building is largely 13th century, but most of the furnishings are from the 18th. They include box pews, altar rails and a pulpit with domed tester. The continued existence of all these may be because there was minimal restoration in the Victorian era. 20th century cement render has been removed in recent years. Nearest railway stations – Tiverton Parkway (6 miles) Nearest cycle routes – national route 3 Directions – the A38 from Taunton runs south-west through Wellington. Stawley is north-west of Wellington on an unclassified road. Postcode – TA21 0HP Church website – www.wellingtonteamchurches.org.uk Stogumber, Blessed 25 Virgin Mary ● The tower is red sandstone and dates in parts from the 14th century. The north aisle, from c1500 and hence in the Perpendicular style, is notable. The octagonal font is 15th ● This church boasts outstanding wood carvings, probably from the 16th century. Most notable is the pulpit, with depictions of saints, angels and the four doctors of the early church – Saints Gregory the Great, Ambrose, Augustine and Jerome. The carvings on the benchends are stylistically different, but equally noteworthy, as they make up what appears to be a procession, a unique example of this in English churches. century and the church boasts one of only two stone pulpits in West Somerset. There are impressive, 16th century bench-ends. Edward Jones, the vicar at the turn of the 20th century, was a devotee of William Morris and repainted his chancel in a Morris style. Nearest railway stations – Stogumber [WSR]; Taunton [NR] (12 miles) Directions – Stogumber is north-west of Taunton and just west of the A358. The church is in The Square. Postcode – TA4 3TA Website – www.stogumber.org.uk © MIKE BERRELL ● The church, which was the venue of Sir Francis Drake’s second marriage in 1583, is of 12th century origin, with a 14th century tower. There is a fine waggon roof. The alms box near the door is dated 1634. The pulpit is 16th century and the screen Jacobean. Taunton, Holy Trinity The fully galleried design of the 19th century Holy Trinity, Taunton, is well seen here. 28 Taunton, Holy Trinity ● The church was built by Richard Carver and dedicated in 1842; it cost £5,000 to build. Although constantly modernised since, it still has galleries and original woodwork. In the best Somerset tradition, there is a tower, which is 90 feet high. Nearest railway station – Taunton Nearest cycle routes – national route 3 Directions – the church is on the south-eastern edge of the town centre, in Trinity Street. Postcode – TA1 3JG Church website – www.holytrinitytaunton.org ● St Andrew’s was originally a priory church, becoming that for the parish when the priory was dissolved in about 1440. It is primarily 12th century, but was altered in the 15th. Extensive restoration took place at two points in the 19th century. There are notable 16th century bench-ends. The squat tower has a short spire on top of it. 27 Stoke Pero ● A local Exmoor rhyme apparently says, “Culbone, Oare and Stoke Pero, three churches where no priest will go!” This church serves a small, sparsely populated moorland area. The Victorian Lord of the Manor, Sir Thomas Acland, rebuilt the church, but one or two Norman elements remain, and some of the simple bench seating is pre-restoration. Unusually, the church has no dedication, although a bell of c1500 is inscribed “Sancta Barbara”. Nearest railway stations – Minehead [WSR]; Taunton [NR] (30 miles) Nearest cycle routes – regional route 51 Directions – Stoke Pero is on unclassified roads south of Porlock and north-west of Dunkery Beacon. Postcode – TA24 8JT Website – www.stokepero.co.uk/ stokeperochurch.htm 31 Watchet, St Decuman ● The church was built by the disgraced families of two of the knights who murdered Thomas a Becket in Canterbury. Although the current building is mostly 15th century, 12th century elements are visible, especially in the chancel. Also notable are 13th century floor tiles, the gated altar-rails, stained glass dating back to 1273 and carved wooden angels lining the waggon roof. St Decuman was a Celtic saint from South Wales, who came across to Somerset by raft in the 7th century. Nearest railway stations – Watchet [WSR]; Taunton [NR] (15 miles) Directions – St Decuman’s is off Brendon Road (the B3191) as it climbs south out of the town. Postcode – TA23 0HU Website – www.everythingexmoor.org.uk 26 Stogursey, St Andrew Nearest railway station – Bridgwater (7 miles) Directions – Stogursey is a little to the north east of Bridgwater, and north of the A39 to Minehead. Church Street is a continuation of the High Street. Postcode – TA5 1TQ Nearest railway station – Taunton (2 miles) Nearest cycle routes – national route 3 Directions – Trull is on the south-western outskirts of Taunton. All Saints is in the heart of the village, in Church Road. Postcode – TA3 7JZ Church website – www.trullchurch.org.uk 32 Wellington, St John the Baptist ● The present church is mostly in the Perpendicular style. There is a fine monument in the north aisle to the town’s best known former resident, Sir John Popham, Chief Justice of England under both Elizabeth I and James VI & I. Victorian pews were removed in 1986/87, and the floor of the nave and chancel replaced. Taunton, St Mary Magdalene The tower of Taunton St Mary Magdalene is the county’s tallest. 29 Taunton, St Mary Magdalene ● The church was largely completed by 1508, but the outstandingly fine, four-stage tower was not finished for another six or so years. At 163 feet, it is Somerset’s highest. By the mid 19th century, however, it needed complete rebuilding, which Gilbert Scott and Benjamin Ferrey did with sensitivity. The elegance and character of the interior match the tower. Nearest railway station – Taunton Nearest cycle routes – national route 3 Directions – the church is in the heart of the town centre. Access is up Hammet Street, by the Park Street/ East Street/North Street junction. Postcode – TA1 1SA Church website – www.stmarymagdalenetaunton.org.uk Nearest railway stations – Taunton (6 miles) Nearest cycle routes – national route 3 Directions – The A38 and M5 skirt around the south of the town. Access to the church is from the High Street, which is the B3187. Postcode – TA21 8SF Church website – www.wellingtonteamchurches.org.uk 33 West Bagborough, St Pancras ● The church is 15th century, but the north aisle was added in 1839. Restoration took place in 1872. New fittings and glasswork in 1923 were designed by Sir Ninian Comper, and complement older features, such as the 16th century bench-ends. Nearest railway stations – Crowcombe Heathfield [WSR]; Taunton [NR] (6 miles) Directions –West Bagborough is north-west of Taunton and just east of the A358. St Pancras is in the village centre, through the lych gate and up the path. Postcode – TA4 3EG
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