The chancel is all that remains of St Andrew's Church in Lilstock. The first church on the site was built before the Norman conquest. In the 12th century the right to appoint a priest was held by the monks of Lonlay in Normandy. In the 15th century this right passed to Eton College. The present church was built in 1532. It consisted of a chancel, nave and tower. By 1554 the chancel was in need of repair and the nave windows were "greatly ruined". In 1557 there was no priest.
The population of Lilstock consisted of 11 households in 1563, 65 taxpayers in 1667, 12 inhabited houses at the end of the 18th century, 56 people in 1801, 91 in 1811, 48 in 1841, 94 in 1881, 58 in 1901 and 5 inhabited houses in 1977.
During the 19th century services were held at St Andrew's Church every Sunday and communion services were held there 4 times a year. The church tower housed 4 bells in 1791 but only 2 by 1881, by which time the church was derelict. In 1881, when the parish of Lilstock was merged with Kilton, the Acland-Hood family had the nave and tower demolished. They had the chancel repaired to serve as a mortuary chapel and a porch and bell-cote added.
The church was declared redundant in 1980 and once again it fell into ruin and was threatened with demolition. The Reverend Rex Hancock, who was the Rector of the United Benefice of Quantoxhead from 1983-93 (which included Lilstock), personally paid for the repair and restoration of St Andrew's Church. The building work was carried out by Arthur Booker, his wife Tilly and his son David and was completed by 1993. Arthur Booker died in 2004 and his ashes are buried in Lilstock churchyard. Rex Hancock died in 2012 aged 84 and is buried at Porlock.
The only 14th century feature still to be seen in the church is the chancel arch, which is just inside the present church doorway. The 12th century font was moved to St Andrew's Church at Stogursey at some point. Sarah Perrett, who was a lady-in-waiting to Queen Victoria and who came from Lilstock, is buried in the churchyard.
The entrance door of St Andrew's Church, Lilstock
St Andrew's Church, Lilstock
The chancel of St Andrew's Church
Sarah Perrett's gravestone
Entrance gate
Odd little face at the base of a wall memorial
Poem on the wall of St Andrew's Church
East window
Lilstock's font in St Andrew's Church at Stogursey
I used to visit this church whenever I was close by visiting one of the Church of England schools in this part of the Diocese of Bath and Wells. A place of quietness. Some would say a 'thin' place.
ReplyDeleteWhat do you mean by "thin"? It is a charming, peaceful place Somewhere to be still and pensive.
DeleteIt was an added pleasure to meet young Tilly, great grand-daughter of Arthur and Tilly Booker who restored it.
Please could someone mend the bottom corner of the roof to the right as you face the door from outside? The tiles have slipped and exposed the rafters leaving it at the mercy of the wind and rain.
I hope I can visit again when visiting Somerset.
Thin places are where heaven and earth come close together.
DeleteHaving met the Rev Rex Hancock through the late Estelle Holloway (author of many books on hunting) in November 2005 at a Meet of the Quantock Staghounds - through Estelle's influence, I recall seeing Rex fairly frequently - whether out following various hunts or through many other social occasions.
ReplyDeleteDuring the seven years I knew him, I have one particular lasting memory of him in Lilstock St Andrew's church before, during and after the holy communion service he conducted there on Sunday 2nd October 2011.