Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Huish Episcopi

The Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary stands in Huish Episcopi, a village in Somerset. It began in the 12th century but was rebuilt in the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries. The church is built from blue lias with golden hamstone decoration. It serves the nearby town of Langport as well as its own parish. The most striking feature is its 100-foot Somerset tower, built around 1500 in four stages. The tower replaces an earlier central tower and is richly decorated with pinnacles and quatrefoil panels. The tower includes an octagonal stair turret rising to its full height. A stained glass window by Edward Burne-Jones adds artistic importance. The churchyard holds two Commonwealth war graves, one from World War I and one from World War II. The church has Grade I listed status, recognising its national significance. Its design links it closely to St Martin’s Church in Kingsbury Episcopi. Inside, visitors find a building shaped by centuries of change. The tower’s height dominates the skyline for miles around. The Burne-Jones window fills one wall with colour and narrative. The war graves lie quietly among yew and stone. The golden hamstone contrasts with the darker blue lias outside. The church remains a place of worship and memory, unchanged in purpose since the 13th century.