Church of St Bartholomew, Cranmore

The Church of St Bartholomew in Cranmore, Somerset, stands on a quiet lane in the Mendip Hills. Built in the 15th century, it is a Grade I listed building and one of the county’s most important medieval churches. The church has a three-stage embattled tower supported by buttresses with corner pinnacles, tracery and gargoyles. Inside, a stone fan vault runs beneath the tower, a rare feature in Somerset churches. The chancel was rebuilt in 1848 in a perpendicular early English style, giving the interior a striking contrast of old and new. The church is worth visiting for its fine collection of wall monuments, especially those to the Strode and Chetham families. The Chethams owned Southill House nearby, and their memorials reflect the local gentry’s influence. A funeral bier from 1597 still stands in the nave, a reminder of Cranmore’s long history. The church belongs to the benefice of St Peter and St Paul in Shepton Mallet, which also includes St Aldhelm’s in Doulting. Its Grade I status recognises its architectural and historical importance. Inside, visitors find a plain nave with high box pews and a raised chancel. The fan vault under the tower draws the eye upward, its ribs fanning out like a stone umbrella. Wall tablets commemorate generations of Cranmore families, their inscriptions worn by time. The 1597 funeral bier, carved from local stone, sits near the door, its purpose still clear after four centuries. The churchyard slopes gently away, with yew and oak trees framing views of the surrounding hills.