St Mary's Church, Limington Explained

Church of Saint Mary
Coordinates:50.9972°N -2.6533°W
Location:Limington, Somerset, England
Built:14th century
Designation1:Grade I Listed Building
Designation1 Date:19 April 1961
Designation1 Number:262636

The Church of Saint Mary in Limington, Somerset, England dates from the late 14th century and includes fragments of an earlier building. It has been designated as a Grade I listed building.[1]

Fragments of the north door and tower date from the Norman period, but most of the building are from the 14th century with the north chapel being dated to 1328.[2] It is built of local stone with Hamstone dressings. The tower has six bells, the oldest of which is from the 15th century. The interior includes a pulpit and altar table from the 17th century and an octagonal font from the 16th. There are several effigies including one of Sir Richard Gyvernay who built the chantry chapel and died in 1329.[1] Below this is a smaller female figure and there is also a double monument of a male and female figure, which are believed to be Henry and Matilda Power and date from the 1340s.[3]

One rector of renown was Thomas Wolsey who held the living between 1500 and 1509,[1] before becoming a cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. resident in the parish for at least 5 years he was placed in the stocks by the Sheriff of Somerset for 'drunken and lewd behaviour' at the Merriott fare.

The Anglican parish is part of the benefice of Ilchester with Northover, Limington Yeovilton and Podimore within the archdeaconry of Wells.[4]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Church of Saint Mary. historicengland.org.uk. English Heritage. 2008-10-12.
  2. Book: Dunning, Robert. Somerset Churches and Chapels: Building Repair and Restoration. 2007. Halsgrove. 978-1841145921. 38.
  3. Dressler . Rachel . Gender as Spectacle and Construct: The Gyvernay Effigies at St. Mary's Church, Limington . Different Visions: A Journal of New Perspectives on Medieval Art . 1935-5009 . 1 . September 2008 . 26 October 2012.
  4. Web site: The Blessed Virgin Mary, Limington . Church of England . 29 October 2012.