Untitled Document

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.