Church of St Mary, Marston Magna
Encyclopedia
The Church of St Mary in Marston Magna
, Somerset
, England can date its origins to before the Norman Conquest, however the present building largely dates from around 1360, with further rebuilding in the 15th century. It has been designated as a grade I listed building.
The church was held by Polsloe Priory
, near Exeter
from the 12th century until the dissolution of the monasteries
.
There are two small windows heads on each side of the central arch which remain from the Saxon church which once stood on the site, and the north wall, which includes herringbone masonry, and the font
are Norman
. The triple lancet east window dates from around 1230, although the glass is Victorian
. The Lady Chapel is from the 15th century, as is the oak screen below the west gallery and rood screen.
The three stage tower has a stair turret on the south east corner leading to the belfry, which is surmounted by battlement
s, crocheted pinnacle
s and gargoyle
s. The vestry in the base of the tower includes a clock by William Monk, who also made the clock in Sherborne Abbey
, and dating from 1710. The bells were dedicated in 1912 when new land was added to the churchyard at the expense of the governors of Winchester College
.
Marston Magna
Marston Magna is a village and civil parish in Somerset, England, situated north of Yeovil in the South Somerset district...
, Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
, England can date its origins to before the Norman Conquest, however the present building largely dates from around 1360, with further rebuilding in the 15th century. It has been designated as a grade I listed building.
The church was held by Polsloe Priory
Polsloe Priory
Polsloe Priory was a Benedictine priory in Devon, England.Amongst its holdings was the Church of St Mary, Marston Magna in Somerset....
, near Exeter
Exeter
Exeter is a historic city in Devon, England. It lies within the ceremonial county of Devon, of which it is the county town as well as the home of Devon County Council. Currently the administrative area has the status of a non-metropolitan district, and is therefore under the administration of the...
from the 12th century until the dissolution of the monasteries
Dissolution of the Monasteries
The Dissolution of the Monasteries, sometimes referred to as the Suppression of the Monasteries, was the set of administrative and legal processes between 1536 and 1541 by which Henry VIII disbanded monasteries, priories, convents and friaries in England, Wales and Ireland; appropriated their...
.
There are two small windows heads on each side of the central arch which remain from the Saxon church which once stood on the site, and the north wall, which includes herringbone masonry, and the font
Baptismal font
A baptismal font is an article of church furniture or a fixture used for the baptism of children and adults.-Aspersion and affusion fonts:...
are Norman
Norman architecture
About|Romanesque architecture, primarily English|other buildings in Normandy|Architecture of Normandy.File:Durham Cathedral. Nave by James Valentine c.1890.jpg|thumb|200px|The nave of Durham Cathedral demonstrates the characteristic round arched style, though use of shallow pointed arches above the...
. The triple lancet east window dates from around 1230, although the glass is Victorian
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
. The Lady Chapel is from the 15th century, as is the oak screen below the west gallery and rood screen.
The three stage tower has a stair turret on the south east corner leading to the belfry, which is surmounted by battlement
Battlement
A battlement in defensive architecture, such as that of city walls or castles, comprises a parapet , in which portions have been cut out at intervals to allow the discharge of arrows or other missiles. These cut-out portions form crenels...
s, crocheted pinnacle
Pinnacle
A pinnacle is an architectural ornament originally forming the cap or crown of a buttress or small turret, but afterwards used on parapets at the corners of towers and in many other situations. The pinnacle looks like a small spire...
s and gargoyle
Gargoyle
In architecture, a gargoyle is a carved stone grotesque, usually made of granite, with a spout designed to convey water from a roof and away from the side of a building thereby preventing rainwater from running down masonry walls and eroding the mortar between...
s. The vestry in the base of the tower includes a clock by William Monk, who also made the clock in Sherborne Abbey
Sherborne Abbey
The Abbey Church of St Mary the Virgin at Sherborne in the English county of Dorset, is usually called Sherborne Abbey. It has been a Saxon cathedral , a Benedictine abbey and is now a parish church.- Cathedral :...
, and dating from 1710. The bells were dedicated in 1912 when new land was added to the churchyard at the expense of the governors of Winchester College
Winchester College
Winchester College is an independent school for boys in the British public school tradition, situated in Winchester, Hampshire, the former capital of England. It has existed in its present location for over 600 years and claims the longest unbroken history of any school in England...
.