Updated 16 November 2011
St. Andrew's Church,
Victoria Street,
Burnham-on-Sea,
Somerset.
TA8 2AQ
Updated 16 November 2011
St. Andrew's Church,
Victoria Street,
Burnham-on-Sea,
Somerset.
TA8 2AQ
Cox Researcher - St Andrew's Church Photo Gallery
The Leaning Tower
The church is known for, its 78ft high, leaning tower, which gets a lot of attention from tourists, apparently if a plumb line was dropped from the north side of the tower it would land 3 foot away from the building.
This major lean is purely the cause of the poor foundations. The bible mentions 'a foolish man who built his house on sand.' (Matthew 7:26) but it doesn't say anything about the man who built his church upon the sand!?
The South Porch
Built in the late 14th century or the 15th century. The massive oak door was originally in the inner archway; this door, the archway, the holy water stoup and the consecration cross all date from 1315 when the church was rebuilt.
The little scratch sundial on the west side of the arch is said to be of early 13th century date, and possibly
comes from the earlier church.
The Nave
Probably built in the 14th century. The ceiling was added later, probably in the 17th century.
The Windows in the Nave
Late 14th century or 15th century. Note especially the fragments of glass in the west window of the south wall of the nave. These are typical of Somerset work of the second half of the 15th century; they are border work and the letter H occurs. The arms in the eastern light are 15th century; Sable, a bend or between 6 fountains, for Stourton. In the western light is a sacred device in Flemish glass with the motto:
"Stateram ne trans-grediaris".It probably dates from the 16th century. The arms dated 1618 in the central light were granted to Christopher Allen of Borden, near Maidstone, Kent, by Sir William Segar, Garter King of Arms, who held office in the days of the Stuart's.
The Brass Chandelier
Candelabra - or Branches, as they were called at the time - dated 1773 and was made at Bridgwater by Thomas Bayley
The Pulpit
Jacobean, except for the tester, which is modern.
The Chapel
Early 14th century. Dedicated to St. Nicholas. This was restored in 1921 and the screen was erected. It is now in daily use again for daily offices and private prayer. The Blessed Sacrament is reserved here for taking to the sick. On the west wall is the pre-Reformation Altar stone (note the crosses) which was rescued from the churchyard, where it was in use as a gravestone. If there were ever figures of effigies in the two niches in the south wall, they are possibly buried somewhere in the churchyard.
The Chancel.
Restored 1878. Originally 14th or 15th century. The aumbry in the north wall was discovered at the time of the restoration ..in 1974. The freestone frame of the 14th century window had been dressed back to make room for the aumbry. On the east side were the remains of the iron brackets on which the door of the aumbry had hung.
The Organ.
Installed by W.G.Vowles of Bristol, 1885.
The North Aisle and Gallery
Added in 1838, destroying the North transept.
The Sculptures.
In various parts of the church - behind the Altar, in the Nave windows and in the Baptistry - are the famous Gibbons Sculptures.
They were commissioned by James II and formed part of an Altar piece by Grinling Gibbons for the chapel of Whitehall Palace. From there they were taken to Westminster Abbey and by the order of Queen Anne, were placed behind the High Altar.
The Dean and Chapter removed them in about 1820 and the Bishop of Rochester, who was also the Vicar of Burnham, obtained them and erected them in our church.
