Holy Trinity Church, Abbots Leigh

Holy Trinity Church
LocationAbbots Leigh, Somerset, England
Coordinates51°27′48″N 2°39′26″W / 51.4633°N 2.6572°W / 51.4633; -2.6572 -->
Listed Building – Grade II*
Official nameHoly Trinity Church
Designated11 October 1961[1]
Reference no.1312353
Location of Holy Trinity Church in Somerset

Holy Trinity Church in Abbots Leigh within the English county of Somerset is a 15th-century Perpendicular Gothic building, restored and partially rebuilt in 1847–48 after a fire. It is a Grade II* listed building.[1]

History

The site of the church may have been occupied by a small chapel or Saxon hermitage.[2] Parts of the present building may be remnants of a 13th century structure.[3]

In 1848 the church was damaged by fire[4] and much of the building had to be rebuilt; however the tower and chancel remain from the original.[2]

The parish and benefice of Abbots Leigh with Leigh Woods is within the Diocese of Bristol.

Architecture

The stone building has a slate roof to the nave. There are north and south aisles, a chancel with a ribbed roof, south porch and vestry.[1]

The three-stage west tower is supported by diagonal buttresses and topped by an embattled parapet.[1] The tower has six bells, three of which were cast in 1781 by William Bilbie of the Bilbie family.[5]

Within the church are various monuments and memorials including one to Sir George Norton of Leigh Court.[2]

In the churchyard is a late medieval octagonal cross.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Holy Trinity Church". National Heritage List for England. Historic England. Retrieved 9 March 2017.
  2. ^ a b c Hooper, Glinda. "Abbots Leigh". Bristol & Avon Family History Society. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
  3. ^ "Holy Trinity Church History". Abbots Leigh. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
  4. ^ "A brief history of our churches". United Parish of Abbots Leigh and Leigh Woods. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
  5. ^ Moore, James; Rice, Roy; Hucker, Ernest (1995). Bilbie and the Chew Valley clock makers. The authors. ISBN 0-9526702-0-8.
  6. ^ "Churchyard Cross, in the Churchyard and to the south of Holy Trinity Church". National Heritage List for England. Historic England. Retrieved 10 March 2017.