Church of St Mary Major, Ilchester

The Anglican Church of St Mary Major in Ilchester, Somerset, England was built in the 13th century. It is a Grade II* listed building.[1]

Church of St Mary Major
LocationIlchester, Somerset, England
Coordinates51.0009°N 2.6818°W / 51.0009; -2.6818
Built13th century
Listed Building – Grade II*
Official nameChurch of St Mary Major
Designated19 April 1961[1]
Reference no.1345741
Location of Church of St Mary Major in Somerset

History

Ilchester was under the patronage of Muchelney Abbey until 1239 and then came under the control of the Bishop of Bath and Wells.[2]

The church was built in the 13th century.[1] The church was reduced in size in the 15th century.[3] Some of the pillars from an arcade were discovered during the 19th century restoration and one is now visible in the churchyard.[2] During a Victorian restoration between 1879 and 1880 the south aisle was added.[1][4]

The parish is part of the benefice of Ilchester with Northover, Limington Yeovilton and Podimore within the Diocese of Bath and Wells.[5]

Architecture

The stone building has hamstone dressings and a clay tile roof. It consists of a three-bay nave and two-bay chancel. The three-stage tower is supported by corner buttresses at the first stage and then has an octagonal tower in the upper stages.[1] The tower has a peal of five bells,[3] two of which are by the Bilbie family.[2]

Most of the decoration and fittings are 19th century however there are an octagonal pulpit from the late 16th century and fragments of 17th century dado panel and medieval stained glass.[1] Behind the pulpit are fragments of a wall painting.[3] The font was discovered in two pieces in the churchyard and reassembled.[3]

See also

References
  1. "Church of St. Mary Major". National heritage List for England. Historic England. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  2. "Parishes: Ilchester Pages 179-203 A History of the County of Somerset: Volume 3". British History Online. Victoria County History. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
  3. "St.Mary Major Church". Ilchester Parish Council. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
  4. "St Mary Major, Ilchester, Somerset". The Corpus of Romanesque Sculpture in Britain and Ireland. King's College London. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
  5. "St Mary Major". A Church Near You. Church of England. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
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