St George's Church, Beckington Explained

Church of St George, Beckington
Pushpin Map:Somerset
Coordinates:51.2635°N -2.2855°W
Location:Beckington
Country:England
Denomination:Church of England
Churchmanship:Evangelical Anglicanism
Status:Active
Functional Status:Parish church
Heritage Designation:Grade I listed
Completed Date:14th century
Parish:Beckington with Standerwick
Archdeaconry:Wells
Diocese:Bath and Wells

The Church of St George is a Church of England parish church in Beckington, Somerset, England. It is a Norman church, dating from the 14th century. It has been designated as a Grade I listed building.[1]

History

Although the first recorded rector was Matrin de Sutton, installed in 1411, the church is at least Norman in origin, with possibly a previous Saxon past. The diagonally buttressed four stage tower is broadly unaltered from the Norman period.[2]

A number of alterations have occurred over the years, such as in the early 17th century, when it gained a Jacobean screen and communion table, as well as a memorial to the poet Samuel Daniel, who died in the parish in 1619. Further notable alterations occurred in the 18th century, when the nave was reroofed (1754) and two new bells placed in the tower (1756), which were cast by Thomas Bilbie of the Bilbie family.[3] [4] The original six bells were recast and two extras added as part of the restoration of the tower in 1906.[5]

The churchyard contains a number of graves, including the war grave of a Royal Artillery soldier of World War II.[6]

Present day

The Anglican parish is part of the benefice of Beckington with Standerwick, Berkley, Lullington, Orchardleigh and Rodden within the archdeaconry of Wells.[7]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Church of St George . historicengland.org.uk . 2007-10-05.
  2. Web site: History of St George's . Beckington Village . 19 October 2012.
  3. Web site: Beckington St George . 19 October 2012.
  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: history . Beckington village. 19 October 2012.
  6. http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2691861/RITCHINGS,%20JOHN%20D.
  7. Web site: St George's, Beckington . Church of England . 19 October 2012.