Church Of St Mary Magdalene

Church of St Mary Magdalene

This is an Anglican parish church of major importance, with origins in the 12th century and significant fabric from the 13th, 14th, and 15th centuries, substantially restored in the 19th century. Built in local lias and freestone, cut and squared with some rendering particularly to the tower, and lead-sheeting roofs, the church displays the architectural character of the Decorated and Perpendicular periods.

The church comprises a nave, chancel, north and south aisles, north and south transepts, a crossing tower, and a large two-storeyed south porch. The four-bay embattled nave features three-light clerestorey windows, gargoyles, pinnacles, and a tall four-light west window with a label displaying carved heads of a bishop and a king. Paired 18th-century doors sit at the west, with grotesque heads serving as label stops. The narrow four-bay embattled aisles are similarly treated with gargoyles, pinnacles, buttresses, and three-light windows.

The south porch is embattled with pinnacles, gargoyles, and squat diagonal buttresses. Inside, it is benched with a flagstone floor. The three-stage crossing tower features massive diagonal buttresses to the east, an embattled parapet with corner pinnacles, two-light bell-chamber windows, and a polygonal stair-turret to the north with weathervane. A large clock is mounted to the south.

The three-bay chancel possesses clerestorey windows and an embattled parapet with shields in relief. The windows are two- and three-light with tracery, the east window displaying a spheric triangle in its head with trefoils. A priest's door to the south features surface tracery. An external 18th-century wall monument stands at the east end. The embattled transepts contain three- and four-light windows. Short sections of 18th-century railings connect the south transept to the porch.

The interior is mainly plastered with flagstone, tile, and encaustic tile floors throughout. Four-bay arcades flank the aisles, with lofty piers of four-hollow section. The tower is supported on four arches of two chamfered orders, with ledge seating at the base of the piers. A stone fan vault rises beneath the tower. The nave retains its original good tie-beam roof with arcading and angel busts. The aisles have lean-to roofs with moulded ribs, bosses, and angel corbels. The chancel has a plain 19th-century roof. Flanking the west tower iron are two small carved figures. The entrance to the former rood loft is visible, as are two hagioscopes.

Notable interior features include a large 13th-century wall-painting of St Christopher in the north aisle, and an octagonal 14th- or 15th-century font with an early 18th-century tester. The south transept contains a cusped piscina. The chancel is fitted with sedilia and a piscina, and contains a 15th-century effigy. Chancel windows retain cusped rere-arches.

The furnishings span several centuries. A richly carved Jacobean pulpit and reader have been restored. A 17th-century chest remains in place. Part of a 17th-century screen is incorporated into the 19th-century screen in the north transept. A former 17th-century altar table was modified in the 18th century to serve as a desk. A full set of 18th-century pews survives, some retaining archaic carving in strapwork and related styles, though altered in the 19th century. The chancel contains 19th-century High Gothic fittings including choir stalls, reredos, altar rails, and memorials.

The church is rich in monuments. A very fine 18th-century marble wall monument in the south transept features a pediment and bust. A further good monument over the south door is by Ford of Bath and depicts a grieving muse. Eight principal 19th-century wall monuments are located throughout. A large wooden cartouche dedicated to Robert Hopton is dated 1610, though it is probably of later execution. An unusual large 18th-century wooden cartouche is also present. Hanoverian royal arms are displayed. Fragments of medieval glass remain in the top lights of windows.

The large organ is by Vowles and dates from 1888.