Church Of St Mary

WOOLAVINGTON CP CHURCH STREET (North side) ST34SW 5/70 Church of St Mary 29.3.63

GV I

Anglican parish church. C11, C13, C14, C15; extensively restored 1880. Coursed and squared rubble, coped verges, slate roofs except double-Roman tiles to vestry. Nave, chancel, south porch, north chapel, north vestry, west tower. Early English, Decorated and Perpendicular. Three stage embattled tower, angle buttresses with offsets to lower stage, 2-light bell-chamber windows, stair-turret with embattled octagonal upper stage, clock; the embattled parapet with corner pinnacles is probably C17; 2-light window on south side of tower. Three bay nave, 2-light square headed windows and large 3-light window to south with gablet, vestigial remains of a blocked Norman doorway on north side. Gabled porch, simple inner and outer door openings, C15 ribbed and studded door with ornamental strap hinges. North chapel to Gilbert de Woolavington, C13 with grouped lancets. Similar the ground lancets to south side of the chancel, 2-light square-head window to north, C17 3-light east window in Perpendicular style, priests door. Interior scraped, floor not seen (fitted carpet at time of survey September 1985); C19 wagon roofs, that to nave and chapel plastered; porch with C14 wagon roof. Tower supported on 4 intersecting triple-chamfered arches, early C14, these were intended to create a crossing which was never executed. Plain C13 archway to north chapel; C14 chancel arch. Lower entrance to rood; sedilia; piscina to chapel; aumbry to chancel; hagioscope. Octagonal C15 font with quatrefoils. Wooden pulpit composed of C16 and C17 work, richly carved. In the chancel a detached stone head, C15, all that now remains of a former effigy. Stone with incised initials inset to north wall of nave, probably to Sir John Hody, Chief Justice of England, obit 1441. Two Jacobean chairs, 2 coffin stools. Three C18-early C19 wall monuments. C19 pews and organ. Late C19 stained glass window to south of nave. Five early bells. (Church Guide; Pevsner, Buildings of England, South and West Somerset, 1958).

Listing NGR: ST3478541647