Church of the Holy Cross, Middlezoy

Church of the Holy Cross
Stone building with prominent square tower.
Location within Somerset
General information
Town or city Middlezoy
Country England
Coordinates 51°05′38″N 2°53′39″W / 51.0939°N 2.8942°W / 51.0939; -2.8942
Completed 13th century

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]

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

References

  1. ↑ "Church of the Holy Cross". Images of England. Retrieved 3 February 2008.
  2. ↑ British History Online Archdeacons of Wells accessed on 23 September 2007
  3. 1 2 3 Robert Dunning (Editor) (2004). "Middlezoy". A History of the County of Somerset: Volume 8: The Poldens and the Levels. Institute of Historical Research. Retrieved 30 October 2011.
  4. ↑ 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.
  5. ↑ "Holy Cross Church, Middlezoy, Somerset". Sally Strachey Historic Conservation. Retrieved 30 October 2011.
  6. ↑ Wright, Peter Poyntz (2004). Hunky Punks: A Study in Somerset Stone Carving (2 ed.). Heart of Albion Press. pp. 41–45. ISBN 978-1872883755.
  7. ↑ "Holy Cross, Middlezoy". Church of England. Retrieved 30 October 2011.
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