Church of St Nicholas, Withycombe
Encyclopedia
The Church of St Nicholas in Withycombe
, Somerset
, England dates from the 13th century and has been designated by English Heritage
as a grade I listed building.
The tower was built in the 14th century, although there is some stonework in the north wall which dates from the 12th century and was part of an earlier building. The nave was refenestrated in the 15th century. The tower was repaired in the early 19th century when the gallery was also moved. Further restoration
was carried out in the 1850s, when oil lighting was installed and further restored and re-roofed 1912 to 1913. The vestry was extended and the west end gallery removed 1934-1936.
Hidden in a wall recess is a figure of an unknown man with long hair and a hat, which is one of the earliest church monuments to include a hat. He is carrying a heartcase to show he died elsewhere and only his heart was brought to the church for burial.
The parish is part of the benefice
of Dunster
, Carhampton
, Withycombe with Roduish, Timberscombe
and Wootton Courtenay
within the Exmoor deanery.
Withycombe
Withycombe is a village and civil parish south east of Dunster, and from Minehead within the Exmoor National Park in the West Somerset district of Somerset, England...
, 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 by English Heritage
English Heritage
English Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
as a grade I listed building.
The tower was built in the 14th century, although there is some stonework in the north wall which dates from the 12th century and was part of an earlier building. The nave was refenestrated in the 15th century. The tower was repaired in the early 19th century when the gallery was also moved. Further 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...
was carried out in the 1850s, when oil lighting was installed and further restored and re-roofed 1912 to 1913. The vestry was extended and the west end gallery removed 1934-1936.
Hidden in a wall recess is a figure of an unknown man with long hair and a hat, which is one of the earliest church monuments to include a hat. He is carrying a heartcase to show he died elsewhere and only his heart was brought to the church for burial.
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 Dunster
Dunster
Dunster is a village and civil parish in west Somerset, England, situated on the Bristol Channel coast south-southeast of Minehead and northwest of Taunton. The village has a population of 862 .The village has numerous restaurants and three pubs...
, Carhampton
Carhampton, Somerset
Carhampton is a village and civil parish in West Somerset, England, to the east of Minehead.Carhampton civil parish stretches from the Bristol Channel coast inland to Exmoor. The parish has a population of 992 .-History:...
, Withycombe with Roduish, Timberscombe
Timberscombe
Timberscombe is a village and civil parish on the River Avill south-west of Dunster, and south of Minehead within the Exmoor National Park in Somerset, England...
and Wootton Courtenay
Wootton Courtenay
Wootton Courtenay is a village and civil parish on Exmoor in the West Somerset district of Somerset, England. The parish includes the village of Huntscott.-History:Wootton was part of the hundred of Carhampton.-Governance:...
within the Exmoor deanery.