The Church of All Saints in

Martock Martock is a large village and civil parish in Somerset, England, situated on the edge of the Somerset Levels north west of Yeovil in the South Somerset district. The parish includes Hurst, approximately one mile south of the village, and Bow ...

Somerset ( en, All The People of Somerset) , locator_map = , coordinates = , region = South West England , established_date = Ancient , established_by = , preceded_by = , origin = , lord_lieutenant_office =Lord Lieutenant of Somerset , lord_ ...

, England dates from the 13th century and has been designated as a Grade I

listed building In the United Kingdom, a listed building or listed structure is one that has been placed on one of the four statutory lists maintained by Historic England in England, Historic Environment Scotland in Scotland, in Wales, and the Northern Irel ...

. The church was acquired by the Treasurer of

Wells Cathedral Wells Cathedral is an Anglican cathedral in Wells, Somerset, England, dedicated to St Andrew the Apostle. It is the seat of the Bishop of Bath and Wells, whose cathedra it holds as mother church of the Diocese of Bath and Wells. Built as a ...

in 1227 and he became the rector and patron of the church. He lived in the Treasurer's House. The tower dates from around 1505, in four stages, with offset corner

buttress A buttress is an architectural structure built against or projecting from a wall which serves to support or reinforce the wall. Buttresses are fairly common on more ancient buildings, as a means of providing support to act against the lateral ( ...

es to the full height of the tower, to replace the previous one over the central crossing. At the same time the rest of the church was also restored and expanded. This expansion was paid for by Lady Margaret Beaufort. In July 1645 the church was used as a billet and damaged by the troops of

Oliver Cromwell Oliver Cromwell (25 April 15993 September 1658) was an English politician and military officer who is widely regarded as one of the most important statesmen in English history. He came to prominence during the 1639 to 1651 Wars of the Three K ...

after a battle at Bridgwater, this included the removal of the statues of saints from niches in the clerestory. The church was restored by Benjamin Ferrey, who was architect to the

Diocese of Bath and Wells The Diocese of Bath and Wells is a diocese in the Church of England Province of Canterbury in England. The diocese covers the county of Somerset and a small area of Dorset. The Episcopal seat of the Bishop of Bath and Wells is located in the ...

from 1841 until his death, and also in 1883–84 by

Ewan Christian Ewan Christian (1814–1895) was a British architect. He is most frequently noted for the restorations of Southwell Minster and Carlisle Cathedral, and the design of the National Portrait Gallery. He was Architect to the Ecclesiastical Commiss ...

when a new pulpit was installed. The interior includes a stucco plaster altar and an organ which was previously in

. In 1919 the Lady Chapel was restored and furnished, and a screen added across the aisle arch. In 1921 the Jacobean altar table, which had long been used as a vestry table, was repaired and replaced as the High Altar. In 1923 the leads of the tower and aisles were renewed and repaired.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Martock, Church of All Saints 13th-century church buildings in England Religious buildings and structures completed in 1505 Towers completed in the 16th century Church of England church buildings in South Somerset Grade I listed churches in Somerset Grade I listed buildings in South Somerset 1505 establishments in England

See also

References