The Church of the Holy Cross in Middlezoy, Somerset, England dates from the 13th century and has been designated as a grade I listed building.[1]
| Church of the Holy Cross | |
|---|---|
 | |
  Location within Somerset | |
| General information | |
| Town or city | Middlezoy |
| Country | England |
| Coordinates | 51°05′38″N 2°53′39″W / 51.0938°N 2.8943°W |
| Completed | 13th century |
William of Bitton II was the rector by 20 April 1263.[2] From the 13th to early 16th century, when it became a separate parish, Middlezoy was a chapelry of Sowy parish. The church was originally dedicated to St. Lawrence and later to St. Mary before adopting the current dedication in 1754.[3]
The church has a chancel and a nave with a south aisle and south porch, and a north chapel or vestry. The 3-stage west tower was built around 1483,[4] similar to that at Lyng. The tower contains six bells, including one of 1608, probably by George Purdue of Closworth.[3] The upper part of the tower was restored by Sall Strachey Historic Conservation. The work included replacing the pinnacles and sections of the pierced parapet.[5] On the stonework are hunky punks which have been severely damaged by the weather.[6]
The whole church has been renovated many times with a major restoration being undertaken in the 1860s to plans by Charles Knowles, with further repairs in 1908.[3]
The parish is part of the benefice of Middlezoy and Othery and Moorlinch with Stawell and Sutton Mallet, within the Glastonbury deanery.[7]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Church of the Holy Cross". historicengland.org.uk. Retrieved 3 February 2008.
- ^ British History Online Archdeacons of Wells accessed 23 September 2007
- ^ a b c Robert Dunning, ed. (2004). "Middlezoy". A History of the County of Somerset: Volume 8: The Poldens and the Levels. Institute of Historical Research. Retrieved 30 October 2011.
- ^ Poyntz Wright, Peter (1981). The Parish Church Towers of Somerset, Their construction, craftsmanship and chronology 1350 - 1550. Avebury Publishing Company. ISBN 0-86127-502-0.
- ^ "Holy Cross Church, Middlezoy, Somerset". Sally Strachey Historic Conservation. Retrieved 30 October 2011.
- ^ Wright, Peter Poyntz (2004). Hunky Punks: A Study in Somerset Stone Carving (2 ed.). Heart of Albion Press. pp. 41–45. ISBN 978-1872883755.
- ^ "Holy Cross, Middlezoy". Church of England. Retrieved 30 October 2011.