Church of St Mary, Moorlinch
Encyclopedia
The Church of St Mary in Moorlinch
, Somerset
, England dates from the 13th century and has been designated as a Grade I listed building. The church sits on the southern flank of the Polden Hills
.
The earliest mention of a church at Moorlinch is a charter of King Ine
in 725 and then in one of King Edgar in 971, although the authenticity of these documents has been challenged. In 1262 it was acquired by Glastonbury Abbey
in 1262. The church includes a 14th century chancel
, and a 12th century nave
with a south porch. The font
dates from the 12th century, while the pulpit is Jacobean
, but made from wood taken from earlier perpendicular panels. The organ dates from 1800 and was made by James Davis.
The west tower contains six bells the oldest being the tenor which was cast in 1651 by Thomas Purdue of Closworth
.
The parish is part of the benefice
of Middlezoy
and Othery
and Moorlinch with Stawell
and Sutton Mallet, within the Glastonbury
deanery.
Moorlinch
Moorlinch is a village and civil parish where the Polden Hills meet the Somerset Levels in the Sedgemoor district of Somerset, England.-History:...
, Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
, England dates from the 13th century and has been designated as a Grade I listed building. The church sits on the southern flank of the Polden Hills
Polden Hills
The Polden Hills in Somerset, England are a long, low ridge, extending for , and separated from the Mendip Hills, to which they are nearly parallel, by a marshy tract, known as the Somerset Levels...
.
The earliest mention of a church at Moorlinch is a charter of King Ine
Ine of Wessex
Ine was King of Wessex from 688 to 726. He was unable to retain the territorial gains of his predecessor, Cædwalla, who had brought much of southern England under his control and expanded West Saxon territory substantially...
in 725 and then in one of King Edgar in 971, although the authenticity of these documents has been challenged. In 1262 it was acquired by Glastonbury Abbey
Glastonbury Abbey
Glastonbury Abbey was a monastery in Glastonbury, Somerset, England. The ruins are now a grade I listed building, and a Scheduled Ancient Monument and are open as a visitor attraction....
in 1262. The church includes a 14th century chancel
Chancel
In church architecture, the chancel is the space around the altar in the sanctuary at the liturgical east end of a traditional Christian church building...
, and a 12th century nave
Nave
In Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar, the main body of the church. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...
with a south porch. The font
Baptismal font
A baptismal font is an article of church furniture or a fixture used for the baptism of children and adults.-Aspersion and affusion fonts:...
dates from the 12th century, while the pulpit is Jacobean
Jacobean architecture
The Jacobean style is the second phase of Renaissance architecture in England, following the Elizabethan style. It is named after King James I of England, with whose reign it is associated.-Characteristics:...
, but made from wood taken from earlier perpendicular panels. The organ dates from 1800 and was made by James Davis.
The west tower contains six bells the oldest being the tenor which was cast in 1651 by Thomas Purdue of Closworth
Closworth
Closworth is a village and civil parish in Somerset, England, situated five miles south of Yeovil in the South Somerset district, on the border with Dorset. The village has a population of 192....
.
The parish is part of the benefice
Benefice
A benefice is a reward received in exchange for services rendered and as a retainer for future services. The term is now almost obsolete.-Church of England:...
of Middlezoy
Middlezoy
Middlezoy is a village and civil parish on the River Parrett as it crosses the Somerset Levels in the Sedgemoor district of Somerset, England.-History:...
and Othery
Othery
The parish and village of Othery, established in 1515, sits on a detached extension of Sowy island on the Somerset Levels. It is east of Bridgwater and north-west of Langport. It borders the hamlets and villages of Pathe, Burrowbridge, Middlezoy, Westonzoyland and Aller, which it meets at Beer Wall...
and Moorlinch with Stawell
Stawell, Somerset
Stawell is a village and civil parish miles north east of Bridgwater, and north west of Moorlinch, in the Sedgemoor district of Somerset, England.The parish includes the village of Sutton Mallet.-Governance:...
and Sutton Mallet, within the Glastonbury
Glastonbury
Glastonbury is a small town in Somerset, England, situated at a dry point on the low lying Somerset Levels, south of Bristol. The town, which is in the Mendip district, had a population of 8,784 in the 2001 census...
deanery.