St Andrew's Church, Medieval parish church in High Ham, England
St Andrew's Church is a medieval parish church built from local lias stone and hamstone with Welsh slate and sheet lead roofing. The building follows a four-cell plan consisting of a three-bay chancel and five-bay nave flanked by north and south aisles.
Construction began around 1150, and the building underwent major rebuilding in 1476 under the direction of John Selwood, Abbot of Glastonbury. This transformation shaped the church into its present form.
The interior displays traditional ecclesiastical features such as carved choir stalls and a timber screen that formed the heart of parish worship. These elements show how the space served as a gathering place for the local community over centuries.
The site is accessible and open for visitors to explore both the interior and grounds. The layout allows you to walk through at your own pace and observe the architectural details at leisure.
The churchyard holds several listed monuments including an 18th-century Gillet Monument and a 19th-century Swain Travers Monument with cast iron railings. These burial memorials reveal the long-standing connection between the church and local families over generations.
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