Church of St Mary the Virgin, East Stoke

The Church of St Mary the Virgin at East Stoke in Stoke-sub-Hamdon, Somerset, England dates from the 12th century. It has been designated as a Grade I listed building.[1] It was previously dedicated to Saint Denis.[2]

Church of St Mary the Virgin
LocationEast Stoke, Stoke-sub-Hamdon, Somerset, England
Coordinates50°57′07″N 2°44′07″W
Built12th century
Listed Building – Grade I
Designated19 April 1961[1]
Reference no.440779
Location of Church of St Mary the Virgin in Somerset

Much of the church, including the nave and chancel with their stone carving are Norman,[3] the structure being supported by pilaster buttresses.[2] The north transept was added about 1225 and the south transept about 1300.[4]

The church has a tower with six bells. It shows various medieval carving including abstract corbels, an astrological tympanum, and St Michael slaying the dragon. Two of the carvings are thought to be Sheela na Gigs.[5][6] The upper part of the tower was built in the 13th century with the parapet being added in the 15th.[2]

The church was restored in 1862,[3] by Benjamin Ferrey.[6]

The parish is within the benefice of Stoke-sub-Hamdon, which is part of the Wells archdeaconry.[7]

Two of the Grade II* listed 17th-century monuments in the churchyard have suffered from subsidence and as a result rising damp has caused salt crystallisation which is affecting the inscriptions. As a result, they have been added to the Heritage at Risk Register.[8]

See also

References
  1. "Church of St Mary the Virgin". historicengland.org.uk. English Heritage. Retrieved 2008-10-16.
  2. R. W. Dunning (editor), A. P. Baggs, R. J. E. Bush, Margaret Tomlinson (1974). "Parishes: Stoke sub Hamdon". A History of the County of Somerset: Volume 3. Institute of Historical Research. Retrieved 28 October 2012.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. "Stoke sub Hamdon St Mary the Virgin". Dawson Heritage. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 28 October 2012.
  4. "The Church Building". St Mary Stoke. Retrieved 28 October 2012.
  5. "The Stoke sub Hamdon Figure". Sheela Na Gig Project. Retrieved 2007-11-11.
  6. "Church of St Mary the Virgin, East Stoke (South side), Stoke sub Hamdon". Somerset Historic Environment Record. Somerset County Council. Retrieved 28 October 2012.
  7. "St Mary's, Stoke-sub-Hamdon". Church of England. Retrieved 28 October 2012.
  8. "Two monuments in churchyard, approx 6 and 8 metres south of south transept, St Mary the Virgin, East Stoke, Stoke Sub Hamdon - South Somerset". Heritage at Risk. English Heritage. Archived from the original on 22 October 2013. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
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