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The original church on this site was probably 12th century; but the present fabric is 15th century (nave, chancel & North transept) and stone-tiled.
The 66ft. high tower, in three stages with carved quatrefoils,
houses a clock and 5 bells & is topped with battlements & pinnacles. On the west side is a broken figure of Christ
on the cross, surrounded by angels. The tower was rebuilt after being blown down in 1309 & again 600 years later after
lightning struck. The earliest bell is dated 1582 - the heaviest weighs 25 cwt. It is believed that a 6th bell was taken to
Yeovil to pay a debt. The clock is dated 1837 and was made by John Baker of South Petherton. The
nave and south porch are embattled with gargoyles. The South Porch roof is dated 1685 & there are 2 scratch dials on the
north east buttress. St. Mary’s is remarkable for its Jacobean oak
pews with shell tops, all differently carved, and some benches have carved names & dates , some as far back as the 17th
century. The pulpit, also Jacobean, has a stone base replacing the original wood (dry rot!); the stone was taken from old
tombs when the churchyard was levelled. Nearby is the base of an old Rood Screen (removed at the Reformation). The 15th Century stone font, carved with Somerset lilies, stands where the old coke stove was - electrical heating was installed in the pews in 1957 when the church was decorated.
Eric Sparks, while organist and the woodwork master at Yeovil School, built the wooden screen door to the vestry and carved the wooden lectern. Eric also made the offertory box in memory of Harrison Jackson. Look outside
on the South East wall of the Sanctuary for the blocked small window at eye level. This was originally a leper’s window
or SQUINT, allowing lepers to watch the mass being celebrated. The organ was rebuilt in 1960 & re-dedicated in I961 by the Bishop of Bath and Wells. On the north
wall, over the font, a board informs us that in 1617 William Whitbye and his wife Annis were buried in the Churchyard (a table
tomb) bequeathing £5 pa forever to the poor of the parish (still distributed). On
the north west wall a plaque commemorates Joseph John Beauchamp Palmer, Vicar from 1921-42 and another commemorates The Reverend
Douglas White, Vicar from 1949-1998. On the south wall (nr. Vestry) is a list of vicars from 1239, proving that a church
existed here then. Mudford was mentioned in the Domesday Survey of 1086. CHURCH REGISTERS date back to 1563 and contain the following snippets: One lady buried in 1847 reached the grand age of 107 A church clock in 1752 cost £14 In 1779, because of damage caused by sparrows, the churchwarden was to pay 2d per dozen for those killed in the parish Bread & cheese for a funeral in 1779 cost 2/- (10p) A shroud cost 2/8 (13p) Beer at a funeral in 1740 was 9d (4p) The coffin cost 7/- (35p) Grave digging cost 3/- (15p) |
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