Holy Trinity Church, Abbots Leigh Explained

Holy Trinity Church
Coordinates:51.4633°N -2.6572°W -->
Location:Abbots Leigh, Somerset, England
Designation1:Grade II* listed building
Designation1 Offname:Holy Trinity Church
Designation1 Date:11 October 1961
Designation1 Number:1312353

Holy Trinity Church in Abbots Leigh within the English county of Somerset is a 15th-century Perpendicular Gothic building, restored and partially rebuilt in 1847–48 after a fire. It is a Grade II* listed building.[1]

History

The site of the church may have been occupied by a small chapel or Saxon hermitage.[2] Parts of the present building may be remnants of a 13th century structure.[3]

In 1848 the church was damaged by fire[4] and much of the building had to be rebuilt; however the tower and chancel remain from the original.[2]

The parish and benefice of Abbots Leigh with Leigh Woods is within the Diocese of Bristol.

Architecture

The stone building has a slate roof to the nave. There are north and south aisles, a chancel with a ribbed roof, south porch and vestry.[1]

The three-stage west tower is supported by diagonal buttresses and topped by an embattled parapet.[1] The tower has six bells, three of which were cast in 1781 by William Bilbie of the Bilbie family.[5]

Within the church are various monuments and memorials including one to Sir George Norton of Leigh Court.[2]

In the churchyard is a late medieval octagonal cross.[6]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Holy Trinity Church. National Heritage List for England. Historic England. 9 March 2017.
  2. Web site: Hooper. Glinda. Abbots Leigh. Bristol & Avon Family History Society. 10 March 2017.
  3. Web site: Holy Trinity Church History. Abbots Leigh. 10 March 2017.
  4. Web site: A brief history of our churches. United Parish of Abbots Leigh and Leigh Woods. 10 March 2017.
  5. Book: Moore . James . Rice . Roy . Hucker . Ernest . Bilbie and the Chew Valley clock makers . 1995 . The authors . 0-9526702-0-8 .
  6. Web site: Churchyard Cross, in the Churchyard and to the south of Holy Trinity Church. National Heritage List for England. Historic England. 10 March 2017.