St Andrew's Church, Banwell Explained

Church of St Andrew
Location Town:Banwell
Location Country:England
Completion Date:15th century
Map Type:Somerset
Coordinates:51.3279°N -2.8633°W

The mainly 15th-century parish Church of St Andrew in Banwell, Somerset, England, is a Grade I listed building.[1]

The body of the church has a nave with a clerestory, north and south aisles and a rather short chancel, considering the proportions of the rest of the church. The font dates from the 12th century and there is a carved stone pulpit from the 15th century and a carved rood screen built and set up in 1552, which escaped the Reformation.

The 100 ft (30 m) high tower, which dates from around 1417,[2] contains ten bells dates from the 18th to 20th century and the clock is dated 1884. Bells dating from 1734 and 1742 were made by Thomas Bilbie, of the Bilbie family.[3] On the western face of the tower is a representation of the Annunciation. In the Virgin Mary's niche there is a lily pot symbol of purity, and a lily leaf motif also to be found in the font and pulpit.[4]

The churchyard contains the war grave of a Hampshire Regiment soldier of World War I.[5]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Parish Church of St Andrew detailed record . historicengland.org.uk . 2007-10-24.
  2. Book: Poyntz Wright, Peter. The Parish Church Towers of Somerset, Their construction, craftsmanship and chronology 1350 - 1550. 1981. Avebury Publishing Company. 0-86127-502-0.
  3. Book: Moore . James . Roy . Rice . Ernest . Hucker . Bilbie and the Chew Valley clock makers . 1995 . The authors . 0-9526702-0-8 .
  4. News: The glory of Banwell Church. 2008-05-23. Weston and Somerset Mercury. 2009-04-05.
  5. http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/393902/THOMAS,%20ARTHUR%20REUBEN