Sutton Mallet Church
Encyclopedia
Sutton Mallet Church in the village of Sutton Mallet, which is within the parish of Stawell
, Somerset
, England, was built in 1827 incorporating elements of a 15th century church on the site. It is a Grade II listed building.
The village is on Sedgemoor on the Somerset Levels
, at the foot of the Polden Hills
. The old church which dated from the mediaeval period provided a landmark for anyone crossing the moor. Deterioration of the fabric of the church had was reported in the 16th and 17th centuries and services were only held infrequently in the 18th and 19th.
The current church was built between 1827 and 1829 by Richard Carver of Taunton
adjoining the old tower. Although the rebuilding was in a Georgian
style remnants from the earlier church were reused including a mediaeval window which was incorporated into the small apse
, and the 17th century alter rails were reused.
The Gothic
tower includes two 17th century bells, one from 1607 by R. Purdue and another of 1657 by Robert Austen. When the church was rebuilt the tower was not adequately fixed to the rest of the church, meaning that, by 2008, 6 metres (19.7 ft) long diagonal stainless steel ties needed to be inserted to prevent further deterioration.
The church is now a redundant church
in the care of the Churches Conservation Trust
. It was vested
in the Trust on 1 November 1987.
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:...
, 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, was built in 1827 incorporating elements of a 15th century church on the site. It is a Grade II listed building.
The village is on Sedgemoor on the Somerset Levels
Somerset Levels
The Somerset Levels, or the Somerset Levels and Moors as they are less commonly but more correctly known, is a sparsely populated coastal plain and wetland area of central Somerset, South West England, between the Quantock and Mendip Hills...
, at the foot 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 old church which dated from the mediaeval period provided a landmark for anyone crossing the moor. Deterioration of the fabric of the church had was reported in the 16th and 17th centuries and services were only held infrequently in the 18th and 19th.
The current church was built between 1827 and 1829 by Richard Carver of Taunton
Taunton
Taunton is the county town of Somerset, England. The town, including its suburbs, had an estimated population of 61,400 in 2001. It is the largest town in the shire county of Somerset....
adjoining the old tower. Although the rebuilding was in a Georgian
Georgian architecture
Georgian architecture is the name given in most English-speaking countries to the set of architectural styles current between 1720 and 1840. It is eponymous for the first four British monarchs of the House of Hanover—George I of Great Britain, George II of Great Britain, George III of the United...
style remnants from the earlier church were reused including a mediaeval window which was incorporated into the small apse
Apse
In architecture, the apse is a semicircular recess covered with a hemispherical vault or semi-dome...
, and the 17th century alter rails were reused.
The Gothic
Gothic architecture
Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
tower includes two 17th century bells, one from 1607 by R. Purdue and another of 1657 by Robert Austen. When the church was rebuilt the tower was not adequately fixed to the rest of the church, meaning that, by 2008, 6 metres (19.7 ft) long diagonal stainless steel ties needed to be inserted to prevent further deterioration.
The church is now a redundant church
Redundant church
A redundant church is a church building that is no longer required for regular public worship. The phrase is particularly used to refer to former Anglican buildings in the United Kingdom, but may refer to any disused church building around the world...
in the care of the Churches Conservation Trust
Churches Conservation Trust
The Churches Conservation Trust, which was initially known as the Redundant Churches Fund, is a charity whose purpose is to protect historic churches at risk, those that have been made redundant by the Church of England. The Trust was established by the Pastoral Measure of 1968...
. It was vested
Vesting
In law, vesting is to give an immediately secured right of present or future enjoyment. One has a vested right to an asset that cannot be taken away by any third party, even though one may not yet possess the asset. When the right, interest or title to the present or future possession of a legal...
in the Trust on 1 November 1987.