Church of St Mary, Bishops Lydeard

The Church of St Mary in Bishops Lydeard stands in the heart of Somerset, a 14th- and 15th-century building with a Grade I listing. Its tower, raised around 1497, shows fine pierced tracery battlements and pinnacles that rise above the bell-storey. Stone carvings called hunky punks line the tower, though weather has worn many faces beyond recognition. One figure still hints at a sea serpent among the damaged figures. Inside, an 1860s extension added a new bay and a vestry under the hand of Edward Jeboult of Taunton. The churchyard holds several tombs of local historical note alongside two crosses.

The church matters because its tower and fabric have survived six centuries of wind and rain. A recent restoration between 2010 and 2011, led by Sally Strachey Historic Conservation and Smith Gamblin Architects, stabilised the structure for future generations. The market cross, moved here in the 19th century, shares the churchyard with a 14th-century cross of equal age. Together they mark centuries of public life in the town.

Visitors find a quiet churchyard where two crosses stand beside weathered tombs. The tower’s carved figures and battlements draw the eye upward, while the 1860s extension gives the interior a lighter, more spacious feel. The surrounding village offers lanes lined with Somerset cottages, adding to the scene of rural continuity.