View source for St Mary's Church, Bruton

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}

{{Infobox church
| image = Geograph-3084577-Bruton.jpg
| image_size = 300px
| caption = St Mary's church from the south-west
| pushpin map = Somerset
| map caption = Location in Somerset
| coordinates = {{coord|51.11159|-2.45228|type:landmark_region:GB|display=title}}
| country = England
| location = [[Bruton]], Somerset
| denomination = [[Anglicanism|Anglican]]
| functional status = Parish church
| style = Gothic, Rococo
| years built = 1350-1743
| tower quantity = 2
| tower height = 102.5 feet (31.2 metres)
| bells = 6
| bell weight = 25cwt-3qrs-1lbs in D
| parish = Bruton with Wyke and Redlynch
| benefice = Bruton, Brewham, Pitcombe and Shepton Montague
| deanery = Bruton and Cary<ref>{{cite web |title=St Mary the Virgin, Bruton |url=https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/9572/more-information/ |website=A Church Near You |publisher=Archbishops' Council |access-date=5 June 2020}}</ref>
| archdeaconry = [[Archdeacon of Wells|Wells]]
| diocese = [[Diocese of Bath and Wells|Bath & Wells]]
| province = [[Province of Canterbury|Canterbury]]
| embedded = {{designation list|embed=yes|designation1=Grade I|designation1_number= 1056408}}
}}

The '''Church of St Mary''' in [[Bruton]], [[Somerset]], England was largely built in the 14th century. Like many Somerset churches, it has a very fine tower; less usually it has a second one as well.<ref name="ReferenceA">Norwich, 546; Somerset Churches Trust</ref> [[Simon Jenkins]] has called Bruton's tower "Somerset architecture at its most powerful."<ref>{{Cite book|last=Jenkins|first=Simon|title=England's Thousand Best Churches|publisher=[[Penguin Group|Penguin]]|year=2000}}</ref> It has been designated a Grade I [[listed building]].<ref name="IoE">{{cite web|title=Church of St Mary|url=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1056408|work=historicengland.org.uk|accessdate=9 February 2007}}</ref> <ref>{{National Heritage List for England|num=1056408|desc=Church of St Mary|access-date=27 April 2021}}</ref>

==History==
The first church on the site was founded by [[Ine of Wessex]] in the 7th century,<ref name=stmarys>{{cite web|title=Welcome|url=http://www.stmarysbruton.org/welcome|publisher=St Mary's Bruton|accessdate=14 September 2011}}</ref> which grew into an [[Augustinians|Augustinian]] priory, becoming [[Bruton Abbey]] shortly before the [[Dissolution of the Monasteries]]. The church was within the grounds of the abbey so strictly a chapel of it, but always in effect the [[parish church]] of the town, with an office and what was perhaps a schoolroom in the north tower above the porch.<ref name=":0">Somerset Churches Trust</ref>

The earliest part of the present building is the north [[aisle]] and north tower, dating from circa 1350, and the [[crypt]] under the chancel from the same period. Together, these three parts formed the original church before it was greatly expanded in the 15th century. In 1445, the construction of the more massive west tower was begun, followed by a new south aisle and central [[nave]]. The roof and [[clerestory]] were begun in 1506 and finished in 1523. Alterations in the 15th century were also made to the existing north aisle with new [[tracery]]. <ref name="IoE" />

The [[chancel]] was rebuilt in 1743 by [[Nathaniel Ireson]] for Sir Charles Berkeley as a shallow tunnel [[Vault (architecture)|vault]] with [[Rococo]] styling, another unexpected note, possibly on the site of an older chancel.<ref name="ReferenceA" /> In 1875, the now former [[rood screen]] stood under the main tower arch, supporting the organ. It now stands in the north tower, and dates back to 1620. It is [[Jacobean architecture|Jacobean]] in design. <ref name=":1">{{Cite web|date=2002|title=Church of St Mary the Virgin, Bruton|url=https://www.somersetchurchestrust.org/Portals/0/Documents/Churches/14-Bruton-Blessed-Virgin-Mary.pdf|access-date=2021-04-27|website=Somerset Churches Trust|publisher=Friends of Somerset Churches and Chapels}}</ref>

The [[Bruton branch of the Berkeley family]] have a long association with the town and the church. [[William Berkeley (governor)|William Berkeley]] left Bruton for America becoming colonial [[List of colonial governors of Virginia|governor of Virginia]]. The church has links with [[Bruton Parish Church]] in the restored area of [[Colonial Williamsburg]] in [[Williamsburg, Virginia]], USA.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.brutontown.co.uk/history/st_marys.html|title=St Marys|publisher=Bruton Town|accessdate=14 September 2011}}</ref>

==Architecture==
It has two towers, the larger of which dates from 1445-1446, and is the furthest south of a type called the "[[List of Somerset towers|Mendip towers]]". It is {{convert|102.5|ft|m}} high. This is the west tower; the older north tower is unusually placed over the [[church porch]].<ref name="Norwich, 546">Norwich, 546</ref> The west tower is the town's chief landmark, and it can be seen from many places around the town and beyond. The north tower is simpler in design, built of three stages with angled corner [[Buttress|buttresses]] and a [[Turret (architecture)|stair turret]]. <ref name=":1" />

The west tower, being built and designed in the [[Perpendicular Gothic]] style, is more decorative. It is built of four stages, and features a large six-light 15th century window, a clock face and canopied statue niches. The belfry stage has sets of three 2-light [[Mullion|mullioned]] and [[Transom (architecture)|transomed]] windows as [[Arcade (architecture)|arcading]], with dividing [[Pinnacle|pinnacled]] [[Pilaster|pilasters]], crowned with 4 large pinnacles. <ref name="IoE" /> The west tower was repaired in 1910, which included renewing external stonework and [[Parapet|parapets]]. <ref name=":2">{{Cite journal|last=Morris|first=Ernest|date=1943-06-25|title=Twin Towers|url=http://cccbr.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/rw1943.pdf|journal=[[The Ringing World]]|volume=1943|pages=281|via=Central Council of Church Bell Ringers}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite journal|date=1970-05-15|title=St Mary, Bruton, Somerset|url=http://cccbr.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/rw1970.pdf|journal=[[The Ringing World]]|volume=1970|pages=370|via=Central Council of Church Bell Ringers}}</ref>

The central aisle of the nave is late 15th century, and is classic late Perpendicular Gothic in style, as is the close proximity of the west window to the tower arch. <ref name=":0" /> The moulding on the tower arch, described as "triple wave moulding", is said to be unique. The nave roof is of [[Tie (engineering)|tie beam]] and [[King post|king-post]] construction, and consists of alternating traceried and tie beams. <ref name="IoE" />

The chancel is a striking change to the Gothic architecture of the nave, built in the [[Rococo]] or Late Baroque style. It has a plaster [[groin vault]], with gold foliage as [[Rib vault|ribs]]. The [[reredos]] is carved with symbols of the Passion, the [[Sacrament|Sacraments]] and [[Trinity|the Trinity]]. <ref name=":1" />

== Bells ==
The bells for the church are housed in the large west tower, and the current peal of six bells is the 9th heaviest peal of six bells hung for [[change ringing]] in the world. <ref>{{Cite web|last1=Love|first1=Dickon|last2=Baldwin|first2=John|title=Rings of Six hung for Change Ringing|url=https://dove.cccbr.org.uk/dove.php?bells=6&order=Tenor&order_dir=Desc|access-date=2021-04-27|website=Dove's Guide for Church Bell Ringers}}</ref> The present ring of six have a long history, the oldest surviving bell being the present fourth of the ring, dating from 1528 by an unidentified founder. The fifth bell is the next oldest, cast by John Wallis of [[Salisbury]] in 1618. <ref name=":3">{{Cite web|last=Baldwin|first=John|date=2011-11-28|title=Bruton - bell details|url=https://dove.cccbr.org.uk/detail.php?tower=16027|access-date=2021-04-27|website=Dove's Guide for Church Bell Ringers}}</ref>

By 1752, there were six bells, as [[Bilbie family|Thomas Bilbie I]] cast the present treble and third bells. The tenor bell, originally dating from 1528 like the fourth, was recast in 1846 by [[Whitechapel Bell Foundry|Charles and George Mears]] of Whitechapel. Restoration of the tower occurred in 1910, when all six bells were rehung by Llewellins & James of Bristol in a new metal frame, which still holds the bells to this day. In 1930, the tenor bell was recast again by [[John Taylor & Co]] of [[Loughborough]] and it is this bell that crowns the ring today. It is 52 inches (132 cm) in diameter and weighs 25 and three quarter [[Hundredweight|long hundredweight]] (1309 kg). It strikes the note D. <ref name=":2" /> <ref name=":3" />

The entire ring was again overhauled, this time by Eayre & Smith, in 1997. This included new cast iron headstocks, [[Gudgeon|gudgeons]] and [[Bearing (mechanical)|bearings]] for the lightest five bells, new clappers and the frame was repainted. <ref>{{Cite journal|date=1997|title=St Mary, Bruton, Somerset|journal=[[The Ringing World]]|volume=1997|pages=818}}</ref> There is also a sanctus bell, weighing approximately 1 and a half hundredweight (75 kg), cast by Thomas Bilbie I in 1749, that hangs above the six ringing bells. <ref name=":3" />

==Burials==
*[[Maurice Berkeley (died 1581)]]
*[[Charles Berkeley, 2nd Viscount Fitzhardinge]]
*[[John Berkeley, 5th Baron Berkeley of Stratton]]
*[[Maurice Berkeley (Somerset MP)]]
*[[Maurice Berkeley, 3rd Viscount Fitzhardinge]]
*[[William Berkeley, 4th Baron Berkeley of Stratton]]

==Parish==
The Bruton and District [[benefice]], of which the parish of Bruton with [[Wyke Champflower]] and [[Redlynch, Somerset|Redlynch]] is a part, also includes: [[Batcombe, Somerset|Batcombe]], [[Brewham]], [[Lamyatt]], [[Pitcombe]], [[Shepton Montague]] and [[Upton Noble]].<ref>{{cite web|title=St Mary the Virgin, Bruton|url=http://www.achurchnearyou.com/bruton-st-mary-the-virgin/|publisher=Church of England|accessdate=14 September 2011}}</ref>

<gallery widths="200px" heights="200px" perrow="4">
File:Rood Screen, St Mary's Church, Bruton - geograph.org.uk - 666098.jpg|Screen and chancel
File:Sir Maurice Berkeley and his two wives - Bruton - geograph.org.uk - 1165475.jpg|Monument to [[Maurice Berkeley (died 1581)|Sir Maurice Berkeley]] and his two wives
File:Bruton Church nave and chancel.jpg|Nave and chancel
File:St Mary's Church, Bruton - geograph.org.uk - 666069.jpg|View from the east

</gallery>

==See also==

* [[List of Grade I listed buildings in South Somerset]]
* [[List of towers in Somerset]]
* [[List of ecclesiastical parishes in the Diocese of Bath and Wells]]Notes

==References==
{{reflist}}
*

== External links ==
{{commons category-inline|St Mary's Church, Bruton}}

* [https://www.stmarysbruton.org/church/welcome-st-mary-virgin-bruton Official website]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bruton, Saint Mary}}
[[Category:14th-century church buildings in England]]
[[Category:Church of England church buildings in South Somerset]]
[[Category:Grade I listed churches in Somerset]]
[[Category:Grade I listed buildings in South Somerset]]
[[Category:Bruton|Saint Mary]]