St Mary's Church, Yatton

The Church of St Mary in central Yatton, Somerset, England, is often called the Cathedral of the Moors due to its size and grandeur in relation to the village.[1] It has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade I listed building.[2][3]

Church of St Mary
View from the south-west
St Mary's Church, Yatton is located in Somerset
St Mary's Church, Yatton
Location within Somerset
General information
Town or cityYatton
CountryEngland
Coordinates51°23′06″N 2°49′07″W / 51.3850°N 2.8185°W / 51.3850; -2.8185
Completed14th century

While the current church was constructed in the 14th century, it is likely that a previous church was located on the same site. The chapel which was added in 1496,[4] and various other alterations and expansions of the church can be seen in the account which have survived since 1445.[5]

The central tower, which was built around 1400,[6] has three stages with diagonal weathered buttresses with crocketed pinnacles. There is a south-east hexagonal stair turret rising above the parapet with panelled sides to the top, and an open cusped parapet.[2] Unusually for Somerset a Dundry stone steeple was built in 1455–1456. In 1595 freemasons were engaged to take down the spire and reduce it to its present dimensions. There is a ring of bells within the tower.[7] The tower was damaged by fire in 1991,[8] resulting in the fourth bell having to be recast.

The 15th century Old Rectory is also a Grade I listed building.[9]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "St. Mary the Virgin, Yatton". Yatton Moor Team Ministry. Archived from the original on 6 February 2012. Retrieved 26 March 2012.
  2. ^ a b Historic England. "Church of St Mary (1137349)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 19 November 2007.
  3. ^ Historic England. "Church of St Mary (1137349)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
  4. ^ Dunning, Robert (2007). Somerset Churches and Chapels: Building Repair and Restoration. Halsgrove. p. 44. ISBN 978-1841145921.
  5. ^ Dunning, Robert (1996). Fifty Somerset Churches. Somerset Books. pp. 29–32. ISBN 978-0861833092.
  6. ^ Poyntz Wright, Peter (1981). The Parish Church Towers of Somerset, Their construction, craftsmanship and chronology 1350 - 1550. Avebury Publishing Company. ISBN 0-86127-502-0.
  7. ^ "Yatton Blessed Virgin Mary". Dove's Guide for Church Bell Ringers. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  8. ^ "A Brief History of St. Mary's, Yatton". Yatton Moor Team Ministry. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  9. ^ Historic England. "The Old Rectory (1137331)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 9 April 2009.
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