Church of All Saints, Castle Cary explained

All Saints Church
Coordinates:51.0867°N -2.5167°W
Location:Castle Cary, Somerset, England
Built:1470
Designation1:Grade II* listed building
Designation1 Offname:Church of All Saints
Designation1 Date:24 March 1961
Designation1 Number:1056241

All Saints Church in Castle Cary in the English county of Somerset dates from 1470 and is notable for its high steeple. It is a Grade II* listed building.

The parish is within the benefice of Castle Cary with Ansford which is part of the archdeaconry of Wells.[1]

History

The church has Saxon origins, however none of the fabric from the wooden building survive.[2] The current Perpendicular Gothic building was constructed around 1470.

During the English Civil War the church was damaged and the organ destroyed.[3]

The life of the local church was described by James Woodforde in his The Diary of a Country Parson. He was born in Ansford where his father was the vicar. A display about his life and writings is available in the Castle Cary and District Museum.

It was restored by Benjamin Ferrey in the 1880s. This work increased the number of "free" or unreserved seats, by increasing the length of the nave. He also raised the height of the tower.[3]

Architecture

The building is made of local stone with dressings from Doulting Stone Quarry. It has a slate roof with battlemented parapets.

The three stage tower contains six bells dating from 1760 and made by Thomas Bilbie of the Bilbie family.[4]

Interior

The church contains a font and wooden pulpit which both date from the 15th century.

Churchyard

The Cosenes monument in the churchyard, which dates from the 16th century, is on the Heritage at Risk Register.[5]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: All Saints, Castle Cary. A church near you. Church of England. 27 January 2014.
  2. Web site: Richardson. Miranda. Castle Cary brief history. Somerset Urban Archaeological Surveys. Somerset County Council. 27 January 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20130712065800/http://www1.somerset.gov.uk/archives/hes/eus/castlecary_eus.htm. 12 July 2013. dead.
  3. Web site: All Saints' and St Andrew's History. All Saints, Castle Cary & St Andrew's, Ansford. 27 January 2014.
  4. Book: Moore . James . Roy. Rice. Ernest. Hucker . Bilbie and the Chew Valley clock makers . 1995 . The authors . 0-9526702-0-8 .
  5. Web site: Cosenes monument, Church of All Saints, Church Street, Castle Cary — South Somerset . Heritage at Risk . English Heritage . 19 October 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131022170931/http://risk.english-heritage.org.uk/register.aspx?id=49850 . 22 October 2013 .