St George's Church Ruishton Somerset Mucker Movies

 

St. George's Church, Ruishton, Somerset, is a historic Grade I listed building, evolving from a Norman site into its current 14th-16th century form, notable for its unfinished Perpendicular tower and a 15th-century cross in the churchyard, with a 1866 Victorian restoration removing a gallery and box pews, preserving Norman features like the font and south doorway. 

Key Historical Aspects:

Norman Origins: The church stands on a site with a Norman predecessor, evidenced by the south doorway's Romanesque features and a font dating to around 1380.

Medieval Construction (14th-16th Century): The current structure saw significant building in the 14th and 15th centuries, with the south chapel and nave taking shape.

Unfinished Tower (c. 1530-1535): An ambitious west tower was begun in the 1530s but left incomplete due to the Reformation's impact, leaving a distinctive flat roof.

Victorian Restoration (1866): A restoration removed the old gallery and box pews, replacing them with Victorian benches, though sensitive work preserved older elements.

Architectural Style: Features both Decorated and late Perpendicular styles, with a notable misalignment between the nave and chancel. 

Notable Features:

Unfinished Tower: The most striking visual element, a testament to the era's changes.

Norman Doorway: Remnants of the earlier church visible at the south door.

15th-Century Cross: A fragment stands in the churchyard.

Rood Stair: A rediscovered medieval staircase behind the pulpit. 

Significance:
St. George's has served the Ruishton community for centuries, reflecting its spiritual and architectural history through its blend of ancient and later medieval additions, standing as a Grade I listed building. 

 

1380 and is of exceptional quality. It has an octagonal bowl richly carved and supported by panelled shafts.                       

 

 

In the 19th century the Anderdon family presented a 16th century  Flemish painting to the church. It had originally formed an alter-piece and was titled “The Presentation by the Magi”. Unfortunately it was stolen from its place above the font in 1981 and never recovered.

 

The pulpit was given to the church by the Sommerville family after the Great War (WW1). It replaced an 18th century pulpit which is thought to have found its way to our sister church at Thornfalcon.

 

The organ was built by George Osmond and given to the church in 1913, in memory of Edwin and John Thorn. Although born in Ruishton, they had, like many others, sought better fortune in America.

 

On the wall, left of the organ are six ropes, each of which is connected to a bell in the belfry. The bells of St George’s have been unringable for some years but this chiming devise enables them to be used in a similar way to a carillon. 

 

The royal arms over the south door was originally on the front of the singing gallery. This was removed and re-sited during the Victorian restoration of 1866.

 

The church plate (silver) includes a fine Elizabethan chalice and cover, the latter bearing the date 1574.

 

 

Outside the Church

 

The chief glory of this church is its tower. It is built of the blue lias stone, typical in this area and is likely to have been quarried locally. Even in a county famed for its church towers its design is strikingly elaborate, with ham-stone friezes, canopied niches and an array of angel busts. It was planned or under construction by 1533, when Richard Gode of West Monkton left 20d (approx 8 ½ p) “to the byldynge of the tower of Ryston”. Despite a recent suggestion that no crown for the tower was never intended, it probably stands unfinished. The letters T and M over the west door are memorial, perhaps to an unknown benefactor.

 

There has been a tower clock at least since the late 18th century, although the present mechanism was made in 1882 by Smith’s of Derby. Two of the tower’s bells were cast in 1747 by Thomas Bayley of Bridgwater; another of 1781 was the work of Thomas Pyke of the same town. In 1955 the ring of six was completed with the addition of three bells made by Taylor’s of Loughborough. Unfortunately by the end of the 20th century an inspection had found the bells too heavy for the tower and all ringing had to cease.

 

Standing near the entrance to the church are the remains of a fine large cross, thought to date from the early 15th century. It has panels around the shaft which may bear the emblems of the four Evangelists. The figure of a mitred bishop or abbot, with his hand raised in blessing, looks down from the corner of the south aisle nearby. It is probable that he, like a similar figure found at St James’s Church in Taunton, originally formed part of the cross.

 

We hope that you have found this tour of St George’s interesting. Please visit us and experience not only the centuries of history but also the peace and tranquillity of God’s house