Church of St Mary, Berkley

The Church of St Mary is a Church of England parish church in Berkley, Somerset. It is a Grade II* listed building built in 1751.[1]

Church of St Mary, Berkley
Church of St Mary, Berkley
51°14′37″N 2°16′19″W
LocationBerkley, Somerset
CountryEngland
DenominationChurch of England
ChurchmanshipConservative Evangelical
History
StatusActive
Architecture
Functional statusParish church
Heritage designationGrade II* listed
Designated11 March 1968
Completed1751

History

The church, dedicated to St Mary, was built in 1751 by Squire Thomas Prowse of the adjacent Berkley House.[1]

The whitewashed stone church has a west tower and a hip roof with stone slates, while the nave has a central glazed cupola. Both this cupola and the organ have been recently restored.[2] There are a pair of 17th century panel backed chairs. The font, pulpit and pews date from the mid 19th century.[1]

Grounds

The walls and gate piers around the church date from the mid 18th century.[3]

The graveyard contains the graves of the local population including some notable tombs. The tomb of William Hall is made of Doulting Stone and dates from 1670.[4] The Bath stone tomb of Joseph Singer is inscribed for several members of the Singer family from the 18th and early 19th centuries.[5] There are also several unidentified tombs.[6][7][8]

Present day

The parish is part of the benefice of Beckington with Standerwick, Berkley, Lullington, Orchardleigh and Rodden within the archdeanery of Wells.[9]

The church stands in the Conservative Evangelical tradition of the Church of England.[9]

Services

There are services every Sunday morning, with a family service on the third Sunday of every month.

Village school

The local school was built around 1860, near the church. It is now Berkley CofE First School, with voluntary aided status.[10]

See also

References
  1. Historic England. "Church of St Mary (1295976)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 4 April 2015.
  2. "St Mary's Church, Berkley, Somerset, UK BA11 5JH". Beckington.org. Retrieved 21 March 2014.
  3. Historic England. "Gate piers and side walls and piers, about 180 metres North, Church of St Mary (1374832)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 4 April 2015.
  4. Historic England. "William Hall chest tomb, in churchyard 3 metres North of nave, Church of St Mary (1058190)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 4 April 2015.
  5. Historic England. "Joseph Singer Chest Tomb, in churchyard 22 metres West of porch, Church of St Mary (1058191)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 4 April 2015.
  6. Historic England. "Unknown Chest tomb, in churchyard 27 metres West of porch, Church of St Mary (1173971)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 4 April 2015.
  7. Historic England. "Unknown Chest tomb, in churchyard 2 metres North West of porch, Church of Saint Mary (1295982)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 4 April 2015.
  8. Historic England. "Unknown Chest tomb, in churchyard 21 metres West of porch, Church of St Mary (1374831)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 4 April 2015.
  9. "St George's, Beckington". Church of England. Retrieved 19 October 2012.
  10. "History of the School". Berkley Church of England First School. Retrieved 21 February 2019.
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