St Andrew's Church, Stogursey

Church of St Andrew
White painted church with square tower topped with a spire.
Location within Somerset
General information
Town or city Stogursey
Country England
Coordinates 51°10′46″N 3°08′20″W / 51.1795°N 3.1389°W / 51.1795; -3.1389
Completed 12th century

The Church of St Andrew in Stogursey, Somerset, England dates from the early 12th century and has been designated as a Grade I listed building.[1]

The church of St Andrew, was built by William de Falaise, as a Benedictine priory church, around 1117 though it is believed to incorporate earlier features.[2] It was given to Abbey at Lonlay near to Falaise.[3][4] A small community of monks then settled in Stogursey forming the Priory of St. Andrews of the Ards, which the church served.[5]

The church was enlarged around 1180 when the apses were demolished and the chancel extended. The priory was dissolved around 1440, and it became a parish church. It was further altered in the 15th century, the nave was extensively restored 1824 by Richard Carver and the chancel rebuilt between 1863 and 1865 by John Norton.[1] The interior contains two Norman fonts.[3]

At floor level in the south arch is a Sanctuary Ring installed in the 13th century. In Medieval England criminals could find a Place of Refuge in a church for up to forty days and then admit their crime or stand trial. If they admitted their felony they would forfeit their possessions and go into exile. The sanctuary ring in the Church of St Andrew was installed 1243 after a murderer, John de Rechich, was granted sanctuary and then absconded before his trial which meant that the priory was liable for his fine.[6]

The tower holds six bells the oldest of which dates from 1611.[4]

The parish is part of the Quantock Coast benefice within the Quantock deanery.[7]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Church of St Andrew". Images of England. Retrieved 11 March 2008.
  2. ↑ Gathercole, Clare. "An archeological assessment of Stogursey" (PDF). English Heritage Extensive Urban Survey. Somerset County Council. Retrieved 6 November 2011.
  3. 1 2 "Stogursey". Great English Churches. Retrieved 6 November 2011.
  4. 1 2 R W Dunning, C R Elrington (Editors), A P Baggs, M C Siraut (1992). "Stogursey: Churches". A History of the County of Somerset: Volume 6: Andersfield, Cannington, and North Petherton Hundreds (Bridgwater and neighbouring parishes). Institute of Historical Research. Retrieved 6 November 2011.
  5. ↑ "The church of St Andrew Stogursey.". Stogursey village. Retrieved 6 November 2011.
  6. ↑ Byford, Enid (1987). Somerset Curiosities. Dovecote Press. p. 44. ISBN 0946159483.
  7. ↑ "St Andrew, Stogursey". Church of England. Retrieved 6 November 2011.
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