Church of St Stephen, Winsham
Church of St Stephen | |
---|---|
| |
Location | Winsham, Somerset, England |
Coordinates | 50°51′09″N 2°53′23″W / 50.8526°N 2.8898°WCoordinates: 50°51′09″N 2°53′23″W / 50.8526°N 2.8898°W |
Built | 13th century |
Listed Building – Grade II* | |
Official name: Church of St Stephen | |
Designated | 4 February 1958[1] |
Reference no. | 1177765 |
Location of Church of St Stephen in Somerset |
The Anglican Church of St Stephen in Winsham, Somerset, England was built in the 13th century. It is a Grade II* listed building.[1]
History
The church was built in the 13th century. from which some of the lancet windows remain,[2] and largely rebuilt in the 15th. It underwent Victorian restoration in the 19th century and a vestry added in the 1920s.[1]
Until July 2018, because of the poor condition of the roofs, particularly of the tower, the church had been placed on the Heritage at Risk register.[3]
On July 29th 2018, the Bishop of Bath and Wells, Peter Hancock held a dedication service (with Eucharist) in the Church to celebrate the completion of the repair works to the Tower and roof.[4]
The church is also noted for it has a surviving copy of Foxe's Book of Martyrs on display, and renowned for having only one of two surviving pre-Reformation tympana (rood screens) of the Crucifixion anywhere in the world (the other being the church of St Catherine, Ludham, Norfolk).[5]
The parish is part of the Two Shires benefice within the Diocese of Bath and Wells.[6] The church continues to host worship services to this day.[7].
Architecture
The stone building has slate roofs. It consists of a two-bay nave and chancel supported by buttresses. The central three-stage tower has an octagonal stair turret and gargoyles on the exterior.[1] The tower holds a peal of eight bells, the oldest of which was cast in 1583.[8]
The interior includes a Jacobean pulpit, 15th century timber screen and a reredos added in 1873 by Harry Hems. The octagonal font is from the 15th century as are the painted tympanum boards depicting the crucifixion.[1][9][10]
See also
- List of ecclesiastical parishes in the Diocese of Bath and Wells
- Winsham Parish - St Stephen's
References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Church of St Stephen, Winsham. |
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Church of St Stephen". National Heritage List for England. Historic England. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
- ↑ "WINSHAM, St. Stephen (ST 374 063)". English Church Architecture. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
- ↑ "Church of St Stephen, Church Street, Winsham - South Somerset". Heritage at Risk. Historic England. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
- ↑ "St Stephen's Winsham". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2018-08-06.
- ↑ 468461, Bob Osborn - 07719. "WINSHAM WEB MUSEUM". www.winshamwebmuseum.co.uk. Retrieved 2018-08-06.
- ↑ "St Stephen's". A Church Near You. Church of England. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
- ↑ "Untitled 1". www.winsham.org.uk. Retrieved 2018-08-06.
- ↑ "St Stephen's Church Bells". Winsham Web Museum. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
- ↑ Bligh Bond, Frederick. "The Tympanum of the Rood-Screen, as surviving at Winsham Church, Somerset". Winsham Web Museum. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
- ↑ "Winsham Church of St Stephen" (PDF). Somerset Churches Trust. Retrieved 20 January 2018.