Church Of St Andrew

Church of St Andrew

A Grade I parish church at Whitestaunton, primarily 13th century in origin with substantial later medieval additions and modifications. The building is constructed from squared and coursed limestone with Ham stone dressings, a moulded plinth, and slate roofs with decorative ridge tiles and coped verges.

The church comprises a west tower, south-east stair turret, three-bay aisled nave, south porch, and a chancel with north and south transept chapels. The crenellated three-stage tower is diagonally buttressed with gargoyles and a string course. It features two-light trefoil-headed bell-openings with a continuous hoodmould, a four-light west window resting on a Tudor-arched west door with a rectangular continuous hoodmould, and nineteenth-century double doors. Below the bell-opening on the south face is a small trefoil-headed lancet. A polygonal crenellated stair turret rises above the tower. The nave south face has three-light cinquefoil-headed windows with hoodmould. The single-storey gabled south porch has diagonal buttresses, a continuous hoodmould to its moulded arch opening, and a trefoil-headed niche above (containing a nineteenth-century statue); a sundial sits on the gable apex. The lancets on the porch returns and a double moulded arch inner doorway (with nineteenth-century door) are also visible. The diagonally buttressed chapel has a west gable end extended south with an ogee-headed doorway, two two-light windows on its south front, and a three-light uncusped window at its east end. The buttressed chancel has two-light windows to north and south and a three-light east window. The north chapel has a two-light window on its east front and two-light windows on its north front flanking a blocked Tudor-arched doorway with low walls of moulded stone coping and curious turned finials. A rood stair turret at the junction with the north nave wall has three-light windows flanking a blocked moulded arch entrance with hoodmould and terminals, and is flanked by a stepped buttress.

The building was refenestrated in the late 15th century, when north and south chapels were added. The tower and chancel arch were rebuilt in the early 16th century. The south chapel was widened in the late 16th century and a west door was added at this time. A major restoration took place in 1882–83 (including chancel refenestration), with minor restoration in 1913.

Interior features include a Perpendicular chancel arch with panelled jambs and a moulded arch opening to the south chapel with a hagioscope in the chancel wall. A stone screen separates the north chapel, with two two-light unglazed cinquefoil-headed openings with ferramenta. A Perpendicular tower arch has chamfered depressed arch head to the stair turret. Nineteenth-century roofs include a barrel vault to the chancel (boarded with bosses over the sanctuary) and a plastered barrel vault to the south chapel; the north chapel has a pitched roof with coved stone wallplate. The tower ceiling has been removed. A chamfered Tudor-arched opening leads to the rood stair, with the stone stair in situ and a rectangular loft opening. An early 16th-century renewed rood screen of two-one-two bays is present. A piscina survives in the chancel.

Fittings include a 12th-century circular font with ribbed base and a circa 1966 font cover. A slate floor slab in the north chapel commemorates Alexander Brett, died 1671. A chest tomb possibly for John Brett (died 1588) stands against the south wall of the chancel; it is of Ham stone with a flat top, vineleaf carved cornice, and three quatrefoil panels on the south front bearing coats of arms. A Perpendicular-style chest tomb against the south wall of the chapel displays the coats of arms of Isaac Brett (II), died 1790, and his namesake died 1837. Hatchments to members of the Elton and Brett families, some dated, are displayed in the chancel and south chapel. Memorials in the nave include those to George Stone, died 1762, and slate slabs to William Meachen, died 1724, and Thomas Parris, died 1639. An Arts and Crafts-style beaten copper wall tablet commemorates Charles Isaac Elton, died 1900, and his wife, died 1914. The Ten Commandments and Creed are painted on two boards. Stained glass in the east window is dated 1874, presumably retrospectively.

The bells comprise: (i) 1695 and (ii) 1696, both cast by Thomas Pudue; (iii) early 16th century by Thomas Jefferies; (iv) circa 1380 by Salisbury foundry; and (v) by T. Pike of Bridgwater.

The Brett and Elton families, who successively resided at Whitestaunton Manor, played an important role in the church's history. The will of John Brett, died 1588, left money for the enlargement of the south chapel.