Church of St Mary, Woolavington
Encyclopedia
The Church of St Mary in Woolavington
, Somerset
, England has 11th century origins and is a Grade I listed building.
There may have been a church on the site prior to the Norman conquest
but the present building may have been started around 1154 by Maud and Philip Columber the lords of the manor at that time. In the early 12th century it was granted to Goldcliff
Priory in Monmouthshire
by its founder Robert de Chandos who was lord of the manor of Woolavington. In the 14th century the chancel
was added and the tower started. In the 15th century it passed to the cannons of Windsor
.
The tower, the upper stages of which were rebuilt in the 17th century, has a peal of eight bells, the oldest of which was cast in 1400.
The interior includes a pulpit
and oak panels from the 15th century. There is also a memorial stone to Sir John Hody
an English judge and Chief Justice of the King’s Bench
who died in 15th century.
The parish is part of the benefice
of Woolavington with Cossington
and Bawdrip
within the Sedgemoor deanery.
Woolavington
Woolavington is a village and civil parish on the Somerset Levels in the English county of Somerset. It forms part of the District of Sedgemoor, and is north east of Bridgwater, south east of Burnham on Sea and west of Glastonbury...
, 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 has 11th century origins and is a Grade I listed building.
There may have been a church on the site prior to the Norman conquest
Norman conquest of England
The Norman conquest of England began on 28 September 1066 with the invasion of England by William, Duke of Normandy. William became known as William the Conqueror after his victory at the Battle of Hastings on 14 October 1066, defeating King Harold II of England...
but the present building may have been started around 1154 by Maud and Philip Columber the lords of the manor at that time. In the early 12th century it was granted to Goldcliff
Goldcliff, Newport
Goldcliff is a village and community parish to the south east of the city of Newport in South Wales. It lies within the Newport city boundaries, in the historic county of Monmouthshire and the preserved county of Gwent.- Origin of the name :...
Priory in Monmouthshire
Monmouthshire
Monmouthshire is a county in south east Wales. The name derives from the historic county of Monmouthshire which covered a much larger area. The largest town is Abergavenny. There are many castles in Monmouthshire .-Historic county:...
by its founder Robert de Chandos who was lord of the manor of Woolavington. In the 14th century the chancel
Chancel
In church architecture, the chancel is the space around the altar in the sanctuary at the liturgical east end of a traditional Christian church building...
was added and the tower started. In the 15th century it passed to the cannons of Windsor
Windsor, Berkshire
Windsor is an affluent suburban town and unparished area in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in Berkshire, England. It is widely known as the site of Windsor Castle, one of the official residences of the British Royal Family....
.
The tower, the upper stages of which were rebuilt in the 17th century, has a peal of eight bells, the oldest of which was cast in 1400.
The interior includes a pulpit
Pulpit
Pulpit is a speakers' stand in a church. In many Christian churches, there are two speakers' stands at the front of the church. Typically, the one on the left is called the pulpit...
and oak panels from the 15th century. There is also a memorial stone to Sir John Hody
John Hody
Sir John Hody was an English judge and Chief Justice of the King’s Bench-Origins:Hody was descended from a family of considerable antiquity, though of no great note, in Devon. Jordan de Hode held lands in Hode in the thirteenth century; Richard de Hody was the king's escheator of that county in...
an English judge and Chief Justice of the King’s Bench
Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales
The Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales is the head of the judiciary and President of the Courts of England and Wales. Historically, he was the second-highest judge of the Courts of England and Wales, after the Lord Chancellor, but that changed as a result of the Constitutional Reform Act 2005,...
who died in 15th century.
The parish is part of the benefice
Benefice
A benefice is a reward received in exchange for services rendered and as a retainer for future services. The term is now almost obsolete.-Church of England:...
of Woolavington with Cossington
Cossington, Somerset
Cossington is a village and civil parish close to Woolavington and north of Bridgwater, in the Sedgemoor district in Somerset, England. The village lies on the north side of the Polden Hills.-History:...
and Bawdrip
Bawdrip
Bawdrip is a village and civil parish in the Sedgemoor district of Somerset, England. The village is on the south side of the Polden Hills about north-east of Bridgwater. According to the 2001 census the parish had a population of 498. The parish includes the hamlets of Bradney and Horsey...
within the Sedgemoor deanery.