St Andrew's Church, Stogursey

The Church of St Andrew in Stogursey, Somerset, England dates from the early 12th century and has been designated as a Grade I listed building.[1]

Church of St Andrew
White painted church with square tower topped with a spire.
St Andrew's Church, Stogursey is located in Somerset
St Andrew's Church, Stogursey
Location within Somerset
General information
Town or cityStogursey
CountryEngland
Coordinates51.1795°N 3.1389°W / 51.1795; -3.1389
Completed12th century

The church of St Andrew, now the parish church of Stogursey, was built as part of the Benedictine priory of Stogursey founded c. 1100-07 by William de Falaise, who first appears as the manorial lord in 1086. It is thought possible that his priory occupied an earlier religious site.[2] It was granted to become a cell of the Abbey of Lonlay Lonlay-l'Abbaye (Orne) in Normandy, near to Falaise.[3][4] John de Courcy, a member of the priory's patron family seated at Stogursey Castle, who gained power in Ireland, around 1183 granted land in the Ards Peninsula in County Down to Stogursey Priory: on that land was founded, before 1204, the Priory of St. Andrews of the Ards (also called Blackabbey) which similarly became a cell of Lonlay-l'Abbaye.[5]

The church was enlarged around 1180 when the apses were demolished and the chancel extended. The priory was dissolved around 1440, and it became a parish church. It was further altered in the 15th century, the nave was extensively restored 1824 by Richard Carver and the chancel rebuilt between 1863 and 1865 by John Norton.[1] The interior contains two Norman fonts.[3]

At floor level in the south arch is a Sanctuary Ring installed in the 13th century. In Medieval England criminals could find a Place of Refuge in a church for up to forty days and then admit their crime or stand trial. If they admitted their felony they would forfeit their possessions and go into exile. The sanctuary ring in the Church of St Andrew was installed 1243 after a murderer, John de Rechich, was granted sanctuary and then absconded before his trial which meant that the priory was liable for his fine.[6]

The tower holds six bells the oldest of which dates from 1611.[4]

The parish is part of the Quantock Coast benefice within the Quantock deanery.[7]

See also

References
  1. "Church of St Andrew". historicengland.org.uk. Retrieved 11 March 2008.
  2. Gathercole, Clare. "An archeological assessment of Stogursey". English Heritage Extensive Urban Survey. Somerset County Council. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 July 2011. Retrieved 6 November 2011.
  3. "Stogursey". Great English Churches. Retrieved 6 November 2011.
  4. Baggs, A.P; Siraut, M.C. (1992). "Stogursey: Churches". In Dunning, R.W.; Elrington, C.R. (eds.). A History of the County of Somerset: Volume 6, Andersfield, Cannington, and North Petherton Hundreds (Bridgwater and Neighbouring Parishes). London: Victoria County History. pp. 154–156. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  5. "The church of St Andrew Stogursey". Stogursey village. Retrieved 6 November 2011.
  6. Byford, Enid (1987). Somerset Curiosities. Dovecote Press. p. 44. ISBN 0946159483.
  7. "St Andrew, Stogursey". Church of England. Retrieved 6 November 2011.
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