Church of St Andrew, Compton Dundon
| Church of St Andrew | |
|---|---|
| Location | Compton Dundon, Somerset, England |
| Coordinates | 51°05′23″N 2°44′41″W / 51.0897°N 2.7447°W |
| Built | 11th century |
| Website | swcd-churches |
Listed Building – Grade II* | |
| Official name | Church of St Andrew |
| Designated | 17 April 1959[1] |
| Reference no. | 1176782 |
Location of Church of St Andrew in Somerset | |
The Anglican Church of St Andrew Compton Dundon, Somerset, England was built in the 14th century. It is a Grade II* listed building.[1]
History
The chancel of the church was built in the 14th century with the rest being added in the 15th.[1] Restoration was carried out around 1900.[2]
The parish is part of the benefice of Street with Walton and Compton Dundon within the Diocese of Bath and Wells.[3]
Architecture
The stone building has hamstone dressings and clay tile roofs. It consists of a four-bay nave and two-bay chancel with and south porch and north east vestry. The three-stage west tower is supported by corner buttresses.[1]
The interior includes a 14th-century piscina and an octagonal timber pulpit dating from 1628. There are two chests one from the 14th and the other 16th century.[1]
In the churchyard is an ancient yew tree,[4] assessed as being over 1700 years old.[2][5] The trunk of the tree is hollow and has a circumference of 23 feet (7.0 m).[6]
There is also an 18th-century chest tomb.[7]
Bells
The church has a full circle ring of six bells and a separate tenor which is used for chiming, after a major renovation project finishing in 2025.[8] The oldest two bells are dated 1630 and 1688 and were cast in the village by the Austen family; two other bells were recast in 1729 and 1777 by the Bilbie family. A 1796 bell cast by the Bilbie family was found not to be in tune with the others and is now used for the chimes of the clock. Two 19th-century bells were acquired from elsewhere: one from St James' Church, Church Kirk, Lancashire, and one from All Saints Church, Lindfield, Sussex, and a new steel frame was installed.[9]
Historically the church had a ring of five bells. The mechanism needed repair by 1900 and in 1936 the bells were rehung to be used for chiming only.[2]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e "Church of Saint Andrew". National Heritage List for England. Historic England. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
- ^ a b c "Parishes: Compton Dundon Pages 103-120 A History of the County of Somerset: Volume 9, Glastonbury and Street". British History Online. Victoria County History. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
- ^ "St Andrew". A Church Near You. Church of England. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
- ^ "St Andrews Church". Compton Dundon. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
- ^ "Church History - St Andrew's, Compton Dundon". The Benefice of Street, Walton and Compton Dundon. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
- ^ "Yew/Yews at Compton Dundon". Ancient Yew Group. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
- ^ "Pickford monument in churchyard, 11 metres south east of porch, Church of St Andrew". National Heritage List for England. Historic England. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
- ^ "Compton Dundon church bells to ring for first time in 90 years". BBC News. 8 June 2025. Retrieved 8 June 2025.
- ^ "Compton Dundon, Somerset, S Andrew". Dove’s Guide for Church Bell Ringers. Retrieved 8 June 2025.