Church of St Mary the Virgin, Batcombe

The Church of St Mary the Virgin is a limestone structure that rises through multiple levels and features three openings in its bell tower. Throughout the building, Tudor period architectural details appear in stonework, windows, and decorative elements.

Construction began in 1450 and continued through the 1500s as the community gradually built and refined the church. Major restoration work in the 1800s renewed much of the structure and helped preserve it to the present day.

The church belonged to the people of Batcombe, who worked on it across generations to create a center of worship and community life. Today it still serves as a gathering place that connects the living to those who built and prayed within its walls centuries ago.

Stained glass windows throughout the church showcase work from different periods and artists, giving the interior different moods as light passes through. Spending time to look at these windows from various angles inside the building reveals their details and colors.

Six bells cast by Thomas Bilbie in 1760 still hang in the tower and create a distinctive sound that has called villagers to worship for centuries. Bilbie came from a famous family of bell-makers in Cullompton whose bells were installed across England.

Location: Batcombe

Inception: 15 century

GPS coordinates: 51.14968,-2.44440

Latest update: December 14, 2025 17:43