Church of St Mary & All Saints

The Church of St Mary & All Saints stands in Broomfield, Somerset, on ground that has been sacred for centuries. Its oldest visible part is the south chancel wall, built around 1320, while the tower rose in three stages about 1440. The north aisle dates from 1535 and the font from the 15th century. Inside, visitors find a 16th-century chest and a stained glass window made by the workshop of William Morris. The tower houses a bell cast by George Purdue in 1606. The church is worth the journey because it carries layers of history in every stone. It has been a Grade I listed building since the list began, marking its national importance. Andrew Crosse, a pioneer of early electrical experiments, worked on a laboratory table kept inside. A tall obelisk in the churchyard commemorates his work. The building also belongs to a benefice that links three neighbouring parishes across the countryside. A visitor walks past the ancient font and chest before reaching the Morris window. The tower’s bell still rings above the village rooftops. Outside, the obelisk stands among yew and ash trees planted long ago. The churchyard slopes gently down to the Somerset Levels, where the sky stretches wide. Inside, the air is cool and quiet, the only sound the whisper of history in stone and glass.