St Andrew's Church, Congresbury

Church of St Andrew
Location within Somerset
General information
Town or city Congresbury
Country England
Coordinates 51°22′11″N 2°48′33″W / 51.3697°N 2.8091°W / 51.3697; -2.8091
Completed 13th century

The Anglican Church of St Andrew in Congresbury, Somerset, England dates from the 13th century and has been designated as a Grade I listed building.[1]

Congresbury is named after St Congar, who is said to have performed three miracles in the area.[2] The second part of the name is thought to come from burh meaning fortified place.[3] The archaeologist Mick Aston identified an Anglo-Saxon sculpture of St Congar which is believed to have come from St Andrews Church, and which is now in the Museum of Somerset in Taunton.[4]

The present church was consecrated by Bishop Jocelin of Wells on 11 July 1215.[5]

The church was remodelled in the 15th century, in a Perpendicular style; further restorations followed in 1825, 1856 and 1950-2.[1] The nave includes pillars with decorated stone corbels supporting the wooden roof timbers and carved bosses. The organ, which was rebuilt in 1967 is in the chancel. The Merle chapel was formerly known as the Chapel of St Congar. The font is Norman. The tower is surmounted by a spire which rises to 120 feet (37 m).[5]

The Tower contains a heavy ring of 8 Bells, the Tenor (the biggest bell) weighing 3812lb or 1729kg and it strikes the note of C. The oldest bells date back to 1606 and were cast by George Purdue.[6]

The parish is part of the benefice of Congresbury with Puxton and Hewish St Ann within the deanery of Locking.[7]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Church of St. Andrew". Images of England. English Heritage. Retrieved 5 April 2009.
  2. ↑ Scott, Shane (1995). The hidden places of Somerset. Aldermaston: Travel Publishing Ltd. p. 37. ISBN 1-902007-01-8.
  3. ↑ Havinden, Michael. The Somerset Landscape. The making of the English landscape. London: Hodder and Stoughton. p. 84. ISBN 0-340-20116-9.
  4. ↑ Eggington, Steve (January 2008). "The Time Team Prof". Mendip Times.
  5. 1 2 "History". St Andrews Congresbury. Retrieved 20 September 2011.
  6. ↑ "Congresbury St Andrew". Dove's Guide for Church Bell ringers. Retrieved 5 September 2013.
  7. ↑ "St Andrew's Church, Congresbury". Church of England. Retrieved 20 September 2011.
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