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The Church of St Mary in the villageSmall rural collection of buildings with a church. of Cloford, Somerset is an active Anglican church in the Frome deanery, archdeaconry of Wells and diocese of Bath and Wells,[1] one of eight churches in the Postlebury and East Mendip BeneficeOriginally used in feudal societies to describe a grant of land as a reward for services rendered. In modern usage it refers to a collection of parishes working together under a single incumbent..[2]
The Grade II* listed buildingStructure of particular architectural and/or historic interest deserving of special protection. was originally constructed in the 15th century, and was rebuilt in 1856.[3]
Architecture
The church is built of Doulting rubble, and has a tiled roof. It includes a chancel and nave which has an east chapel. It consists of a naveCentral part of a church, used by the laiety. with an East chapel and vestryRoom in Christian churches for the storage of liturgical vestments, sacred vessels and parish records., chancelPart of a church containing the altar, used by the officiating clergy., a west tower and a south porch. The chancel was extended in 1869, and the south porch was added in 1887. The two-stage west tower is supported by diagonal buttresses to the lower stage only.[3]
The interior includes an 11th-century tub font and memorials to the Horner family, prominent among which is the wall monument to Sir George and Lady Horner, installed in 1676.[3] The Horner family were the lords of the manor of Mells and Leigh-on-Mendip, in which Cloford is situated, having purchased it from the Crown in 1543.[4]