Church of St Mary, Orchardlea
Encyclopedia
The Church of St Mary sits on an island in the 11.23-hectare
artificial Orchardleigh Lake
in the grounds of the Orchardleigh Estate
within the parish of Lullington
, Somerset
, England. It was built in the 13th century, and underwent extensive restoration
by Sir George Gilbert Scott
, for the Rev. W. A. Duckworth, in 1878. It has been designated as a Grade I listed building.
The church includes sculpture from the 14th century and tained glass] from the 15th. Around 1800 Thomas Champneys of the Mostyn-Champneys Baronets
who ownded the estate had a moat dug around the church.
Weddings are often performed at the church, which has capacity for 120 guests. It is linked from the mainland via a footbridge, and a public footpath runs nearby over another bridge across the lake. The church does not have an electricity supply and therefore services are candlelit. The organ is pumped by hand.
The Anglican parish is part of the benefice
of Beckington
with Standerwick, Berkley
, Rodden
and Orchardleigh within the Frome
deanery.
Hectare
The hectare is a metric unit of area defined as 10,000 square metres , and primarily used in the measurement of land. In 1795, when the metric system was introduced, the are was defined as being 100 square metres and the hectare was thus 100 ares or 1/100 km2...
artificial Orchardleigh Lake
Orchardleigh Lake
Orchardleigh Lake is an 11.23-hectare artificial lake in the grounds of the Orchardleigh Estate, just north of Frome, Somerset, England. It was formed by damming a tributary of the River Frome. Today, the lake is used for angling, and also birdwatching.There is a small island towards the western...
in the grounds of the Orchardleigh Estate
Orchardleigh Estate
Orchardleigh is a country estate in Somerset, approximately two miles north of Frome, and on the southern edge of the village of Lullington. It comprises a Victorian stately home, an island church, and an 18-hole golf course...
within the parish of Lullington
Lullington, Somerset
Lullington is a village and civil parish just across the Mells River from Beckington and north east of Frome, in the Mendip district of Somerset, England.The parish includes the hamlet of Laverton, where the Church of St...
, 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. It was built in the 13th century, and underwent extensive restoration
Victorian restoration
Victorian restoration is the term commonly used to refer to the widespread and extensive refurbishment and rebuilding of Church of England churches and cathedrals that took place in England and Wales during the 19th-century reign of Queen Victoria...
by Sir George Gilbert Scott
George Gilbert Scott
Sir George Gilbert Scott was an English architect of the Victorian Age, chiefly associated with the design, building and renovation of churches, cathedrals and workhouses...
, for the Rev. W. A. Duckworth, in 1878. It has been designated as a Grade I listed building.
The church includes sculpture from the 14th century and tained glass] from the 15th. Around 1800 Thomas Champneys of the Mostyn-Champneys Baronets
Mostyn-Champneys Baronets
The Champneys, later Mostyn-Champneys Baronetcy, of Orchardleigh in the County of Somerset, was a title in the Baronetage of Great Britain. It was created on 12 January 1767 for Thomas Champneys, subsequently High Sheriff of Somerset from 1775 to 1776. He was succeeded by his son, Sir Thomas, the...
who ownded the estate had a moat dug around the church.
Weddings are often performed at the church, which has capacity for 120 guests. It is linked from the mainland via a footbridge, and a public footpath runs nearby over another bridge across the lake. The church does not have an electricity supply and therefore services are candlelit. The organ is pumped by hand.
The Anglican 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 Beckington
Beckington
Beckington is a village and civil parish in the Mendip district of Somerset, England, across the River Frome from Lullington about three miles north of Frome...
with Standerwick, Berkley
Berkley, Somerset
Berkley is a village and civil parish in the Mendip district of Somerset, England. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 361. The village is north-east of Frome.-Governance:...
, Rodden
Rodden
Rodden is a village and a former municipality in the district Saalekreis, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Since 31 December 2009, it is part of the town Leuna....
and Orchardleigh within the Frome
Frome
Frome is a town and civil parish in northeast Somerset, England. Located at the eastern end of the Mendip Hills, the town is built on uneven high ground, and centres around the River Frome. The town is approximately south of Bath, east of the county town, Taunton and west of London. In the 2001...
deanery.