Nominal: 636.5 Hz Weight: 2112 lbs Diameter: 49" Bell 1 of 9
Founded by Mears & Stainbank 1902
Dove Bell ID: 766 Tower ID: 15281 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: quarter Cracked: No
Blagdon: St Andrew
Diocese of Bath & Wells
Church, 601287
http://www.beneficebcmu.co.ukOverview
Grid reference: ST 504 589
St. Andrew’s church is grade II* listed, constructed of coursed rubble stone, consisting of chancel with chapels either side, nave, north and south aisles, tower and south porch. The fifteenth century tower is the oldest part of the church and is one of the tallest in Somerset. It is an important feature in the landscape surrounding Blagdon Lake.
Visiting and facilities
Building is open for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Footprint of Church buildings: 487 m²
Description of Archaeology and History
St Andrew’s Church is grade II* listed, constructed of coursed rubble stone, consisting of chancel with chapels either side, nave, north and south aisles, tower, and south porch. The oldest part of the church is the fifteenth century tower. The chancel, nave and aisles, although fifteenth century in style, were re-built in 1907–08 by Sir Frank Wills. The lychgate is grade II listed.
In 1822 the Perpendicular style building erected in 1317 on the site of an even earlier building was declared in need of urgent and extensive repairs. Instead of repairing the church, a grant was obtained for enlargement, the church building was demolished and its medieval furnishings disposed of.
St Andrew's was again re-built, with the exception of the tower, in 1908-09 by Sir Frank Wills, commissioned by his cousin, Sir Henry Wills (later Lord Winterstoke), who was noted as the largest landowner of the district at the time and resided at neighbouring Combe Lodge. A stone piscina of Norman (or possibly Saxon) origins was found within the walls during the re-build, suggesting that a very early church may have occupied the site. Previosly, in 1896, Lord Winterstoke had also undertaken restoration works to the tower in memory of his wife. Internally, the ringing chamber was removed and the present ceiling with gothic fan tracery installed.
Internally there are highly decorative timber screens to the chancel, chapels and to the tower. The screens to the tower and chapels formed part of the 1908 re-build but the chancel screen was added later, in 1935. This screen was designed by architect Robert Marchant, in memory of Sir George Alfred Wills and his son Sir George Vernon Proctor Wills, and the rood over dedicated to Prebendary G.M. Lambick who was rector of Blagdon 1908-1929.
None of the original box pews were retained in the rebuild. They have been replaced with twentieth century carved pews made by local carpenter Vince Harris.
The church windows were designed, in close collaboration with Lord Winterstoke, as a matched set made by James Powell & Sons (Whitefriars Glassworks-London) and installed from 1909-14, with the war memorial chapel windows installed later in 1918. The windows start in chronological order with the Old Testament figures at the eastern end of the north aisle. They are fine examples of Edwardian stained glass with much of the decoration believed to have been strongly influenced by William Morris, who was known to have worked with the glass maker, James Powell.
St Andrew's has recently undergone some extensive reordering. In 2013-14 the font was repositioned and some pews were removed to allow for a more flexible use of the areas at the west end of the nave, including a fully accessible toilet and flower arrangers' 'pod' at the west end of the south aisle and a kitchenette with servery at the west end of the north aisle, while the insertion of a floor into the tower has provided a much needed meeting room.
Building Fabric and Features
Buttress
15th Century Tower - set-back buttresses ending in pinnacles at the belfry stage
Historical Notes
1400 - 14991
Period Qualifier: 2
Tower (component)
15th Century Tower, 116 ½ feet high of ashlar, made of 4 stages. Set-back buttresses ending in pinnacles at the belfry stage and pinnacles between the belfry windows – which are 2-light & transomed. A pierced parapet and pinnacles at the angles, lesser pinnacles in the middle of the four sides. North East stair turret with spirelet. Blank windows in the next two stages below with large niche at the West. Lowest stage on the south has efface panel with 3 kneeling figures and inscription.
Historical Notes
1400 - 1499
Period Qualifier: 2
1896 - 1896
Period Qualifier: 1
Restored by Lord Winterstoke
Turret
15th Century North East stair turret with spirelet on tower
Historical Notes
1400 - 1499
Period Qualifier: 2
Belfry
15th Century Belfry stage as part of tower. Pinnacles at the belfry stage and pinnacles between the belfry windows – which are 2-light & transomed.
Historical Notes
1400 - 1499
Period Qualifier: 2
Church
19th Century Earliest part the C15th tower, but rebuilt 1823
Historical Notes
1400 - 1499
Period Qualifier: 2
C15th tower with turret and belfry
1823 - 1823
Period Qualifier: 1
Church rebuilt with simple Gothic windows, and fitted with box pews
1907 - 1909
Period Qualifier: 1
Church entirely rebuilt by architect, Sir Frank Wm: Wills of Bristol in reproduction of a Perpendicular style church with screen, loft, parcloses, carved stalls and (James Powell and Sons) Whitefriars glass.
Organ Loft
Victorian/Pre WWI Loft added in 1907-09 restoration by Sir Frank William Wills of Bristol
Historical Notes
1907 - 1909
Period Qualifier: 2
Vault
15th Century Base of the tower has fan vault
Historical Notes
1400 - 1499
Period Qualifier: 2
Building Materials
Bath Stone
15th Century
Bath Stone
Carboniferous Limestone
15th Century
Carboniferous Limestone
Slate
15th Century
Slate
Interior
Interior Description
The south wall of the chancel has a re-set piscina with twelth century frieze of the four Evangelists under canopies. Above the altar is the striking painting by Oswald Moser (1874–1953) The Last Supper, purchased in 1907 for the church by Lord Winterstoke. It is unusual in English churches to have a painting behind the altar and the picture is a focal point in the chancel. The composition is in the style of Caravaggio – the models came from the unemployed on the Chelsea embankment.
The joinery within the church is of good quality and craftsmanship and of particular aesthetic value, as are the attractive stained glass windows. It is these internal features that give the church a highly decorative and artistic quality.
Fixtures and fittings
Window
19th Century Church rebuilt 1823 with simple Gothic windows
Historical Notes
1823 - 1823
Period Qualifier: 2
Box Pew
19th Century Church fitted with box pews 1823
Historical Notes
1823 - 1823
Period Qualifier: 2
Stained Glass (window)
Victorian/Pre WW1 All stained glass by James Powell and Sons (Whitefriars).
Historical Notes
1907 - 1909
Period Qualifier: 2
Screen
Victorian/Pre WW1 Screen added in 1907-09 restoration by Sir Frank William Wills of Bristol
Historical Notes
1907 - 1909
Period Qualifier: 2
Parclose
Victorian/Pre WW1 Parcloses added in 1907-09 restoration by Sir Frank William Wills of Bristol
Historical Notes
1907 - 1909
Period Qualifier: 2
Stall
Victorian/Pre WW1 Carved stalls added in 1907-09 restoration by Sir Frank William Wills of Bristol
Historical Notes
1907 - 1909
Period Qualifier: 2
Piscina (component)
Medieval Norman piscina with 4 little figures under arches. Canon Clarke notes that Nikolaus Pevsner calls this an ‘interesting, extremely primitive Norman stone.’
Commemorative Stone
Base of the tower has monumental tablets and Royal arms
Clock
18th Century Clock with wrought iron side by side birdcage frame located in Tower
Historical Notes
1700 - 1700
Period Qualifier: 2
Bells
Nominal: 1275 Hz Weight: 638 lbs Diameter: 30.13" Bell 2 of 9
Founded by Mears & Stainbank 1902
Dove Bell ID: 11685 Tower ID: 15281 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: quarter Cracked: No
Nominal: 1203 Hz Weight: 672 lbs Diameter: 30.63" Bell 3 of 9
Founded by Mears & Stainbank 1902
Dove Bell ID: 11686 Tower ID: 15281 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: quarter Cracked: No
Nominal: 1070 Hz Weight: 787 lbs Diameter: 33" Bell 4 of 9
Founded by Mears & Stainbank 1902
Dove Bell ID: 11687 Tower ID: 15281 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: quarter Cracked: No
Nominal: 951 Hz Weight: 904 lbs Diameter: 35.5" Bell 5 of 9
Founded by Mears & Stainbank 1902
Dove Bell ID: 11688 Tower ID: 15281 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: quarter Cracked: No
Nominal: 849 Hz Weight: 1000 lbs Diameter: 38" Bell 6 of 9
Founded by Mears & Stainbank 1902
Dove Bell ID: 11689 Tower ID: 15281 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: quarter Cracked: No
Nominal: 802 Hz Weight: 1171 lbs Diameter: 40.13" Bell 7 of 9
Founded by Mears & Stainbank 1902
Dove Bell ID: 11690 Tower ID: 15281 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: quarter Cracked: No
Nominal: 714 Hz Weight: 1551 lbs Diameter: 44" Bell 8 of 9
Founded by Mears & Stainbank 1902
Dove Bell ID: 11691 Tower ID: 15281 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: quarter Cracked: No
Nominal: 899 Hz Weight: 997 lbs Diameter: 37.13" Bell 9 of 9
Founded by Mears & Stainbank 1902
Dove Bell ID: 11692 Tower ID: 15281 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: quarter Cracked: No
Churchyard
Grid reference: ST 504 589
Burial and War Grave Information
It is unknown whether the building is consecrated.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has been used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard is used for burial.
The churchyard has war graves.
Environment
Ancient, Veteran & Notable Trees
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
There are no records of Ancient, Veteran or Notable Trees within the curtilage of this site.
Renewables
| Renewable | Installed |
|---|---|
| Solar PV Panels | No |
| Solar Thermal Panels | No |
| Biomass | No |
| Wind Turbine | No |
| Air Source Heat Pump | No |
| Ground Source Heat Pump | No |
| Ev Charging | No |
Species summary
There are no records of species within the curtilage of this site.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
'Seek advice' Species
More information on species and action to be taken upon discovery.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
Further information
Sources
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