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Historic Churches in SomersetThis page Batcombe, Blessed Virgin Mary Church - Elworthy, St Martin of Tours Church
Batcombe 
Batcombe, Blessed Virgin Mary ChurchA 15th century church with a wonderful west tower, including superb fan vaulting under the tower arch. There is a 16th century brass to Philip Bisse, a pair of Perpendicular fonts, and fragments of medieval glass. Heritage Rating: Bath 
Bath AbbeyOliver King, Bishop of Bath and Wells, had a dream of angels climbing a ladder, and a voice said to him, "Let a King restore the church". He took this as a sign that he should rebuild Bath Abbey. So in 1499 he had the existing Norman abbey church pulled down and work begun on a new cathedral. The result is one of the best examples of late medieval Gothic architecture in Britain. Heritage Rating: Bishops Lydeard 
Bishops Lydeard, St Mary's ChurchOne of the 'Somerset Towers', a lovely red sandstone church dating to the 14th century. The interior features a fabulously carved and painted 16th century rood screen, a carved Jacobean pulpit, and a collection of attractively carved and painted 16th century benches. Heritage Rating: Brent Knoll 
Brent Knoll ChurchA small Perpendicular parish church famous for its carved bench ends. Three of the bench ends depict the story of an abbot, represented by a fox. In the first panel the abbot preaches to his flock of geese, in the second he is cast in chains, and in the third, the geese hang the fox. This allegory points to the feelings of the villagers towards the church, probably in the form of the powerful Abbot of Glastonbury. The church also features a lovely late Jacobean memorial to John Somerset. Heritage Rating: Brockley 
Brockley, St Nicholas ChurchA small medieval church dating to the 12th century. The buildinmg was enlarged in the 13th century, and a west tower was added in the 15th century. Heritage Rating: Cameley 
Cameley, St James ChurchA delightful country church in the Mendip Hills of northern Somerset. The bulk of the church is built of blue lias stone, wth the exception of the lovely west tower, which is built of local red sandstone. Heritage Rating: Clapton-in-Gordano 
Clapton-in-Gordano, St Michael's ChurchA 13th century church incorporating parts of an earlier 12th century building. The church stands above the Court House manor. The oldest feature is the 12th century doorway arch. Heritage Rating: Culbone Culbone, St Beuno's ChurchSaid to be the smallest parish church in England, seating only 33, St Beuno's can only be reached on foot. The church is sited in a quiet combe looking out to sea. A leper's squint is set into the north wall, a relic of the 16th century when a leper's colony was sited in the nearby woods. The church boasts a Saxon font and carved head that is part-cat, part-man on the north window. Heritage Rating: Curry Rivel 
Curry RivelA fine Perpendicular church in a pretty village looking down over the Somerset Levels. There are 13th and 14th century tombs in the north chapel, some beautifully carved bench ends from the 14th century, and a lovely Jacobean monument to the Jennings, father and son, in the chancel. Heritage Rating: Elworthy 
Elworthy, St Martin of Tours ChurchA 13th century church in the Brendon Hills, with some fascinating interior furnishings. Elworthy church has a very fine battlemented tower with an external stairway. Heritage Rating: |
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HISTORY CORNERName the Historic attractionBritish Heritage AwardsCelebrate the best of British Heritage in our annual British History QuizThis Day in British History11 March, 1248 First 'trial of the Pyx' tests coinage The 'trial', headed by Richard, Earl of Cornwall, tested the purity of coinage by assaying Monarch Mayhem
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