Bath Abbey is a church built by a dream. In this case the dreamer was Oliver King, Bishop of Bath and Wells, Secretary to Henry VII. It seems the good bishop 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. Accordingly, he had the Norman abbey church pulled down and in 1499 work began on a new cathedral. The chancel and side aisles had been vaulted by the time of the Dissolution of the Monasteries, the tower crossing was completed under Elizabeth, but the nave was not finished until Victorian times. The resulting fan vaulting creates a superb rhythmic unity, and is one of the best examples of late medieval Gothic architecture in Britain.
Bath,
Somerset,
England,
BA1 1LT
One 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.
Church Street,
Bishops Lydeard,
Somerset,
England,
TA4 3AT
A 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.
Church Lane,
Brent Knoll,
Somerset,
England,
TA9 4EE
A 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.
Backwell,
Brockley,
Somerset,
England,
BS48 3AX
A 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.
Temple Cloud,
Cameley,
Somerset,
England,
BS39 5AH
A 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.
Clevedon Lane,
Clapton-in-Gordano,
Somerset,
England,
BS20 7RH
Said 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.
Porlock,
nr Minehead Culbone,
Somerset,
England,
TA24
A 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.
Butt Lane,
Curry Rivel,
Somerset,
England,
TA10 0HQ
A 13th century church in the Brendon Hills, with some fascinating interior furnishings. Elworthy church has a very fine battlemented tower with an external stairway.
Elworthy,
Somerset,
England,
TA4 3PY
Attraction Type:
Church Heritage Rating:? Location: Off the B3188 4 miles north of Wiveliscombe
The church at Emborough is more than it appears at first glance; a Georgian restoration belies the ancient origins of the church, which may well date back to the Saxon period.
Emborough,
Somerset,
England,
BA3 4SG
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