St Mary's Church, Axminster

St Mary's Church
St Mary's Church
Religion
AffiliationChurch of England
Location
LocationAxminster, Devon, England
Geographic coordinates50°46′54″N 2°59′57″W / 50.7816°N 2.9993°W / 50.7816; -2.9993
Architecture
TypeChurch

St Mary's Church is a Church of England church in Axminster, Devon, England.[1] The church has Norman origins, although much of the building dates from the 13th–15th centuries.[2] St Mary's is Axminster's parish church and the oldest building in the town.[3]

St Mary's has been Grade II* Listed since 1950.[2] The earliest surviving section of the church is a reset doorway from the Norman period, while the tower, rebuilt in the 13th century, was restored in 1896.[4] The church suffered an arson attack in 2014, and underwent restoration and repair work before reopening in 2015.[5][6]

A World War I memorial is located in the churchyard. An obelisk with Perpendicular decorations, it has been Grade II Listed since 1983.[7] It lists the names of 65 local men who lost their lives in the war, with a later addition of 19 names from World War II.[8] An early 19th-century tomb chest, located by the churchyard's north east gate, is also Grade II Listed.[9]

References

  1. ^ "St Mary". A Church Near You. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
  2. ^ a b Historic England (11 August 1950). "CHURCH OF ST MARY, Axminster (1333520)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
  3. ^ Billing, Joanna (2003). The Hidden Places of Devon. ISBN 9781902007892. Retrieved 29 August 2018 – via Google Books.
  4. ^ Historic England. "CHURCH OF ST MARY (1024046)". Research records (formerly PastScape). Retrieved 29 August 2018.
  5. ^ "Events". S313751212.websitehome.co.uk. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
  6. ^ Chris Carson. "Axminster's fire damaged Minster Church to reopen". Midweek Herald. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
  7. ^ Historic England. "WAR MEMORIAL IN CHURCHYARD NORTH OF ST MARY'S CHURCH, Axminster (1098616)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
  8. ^ "Axminster - Cross". Imperial War Museums. 13 April 2015. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
  9. ^ Historic England (6 June 1983). "TOMB CHEST BY NORTH EAST GATE OF CHURCHYARD OF ST MARY'S CHURCH, Axminster (1333521)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 29 August 2018.