The Church of Saint Mary the Virgin was built in 1086. For centuries, only the Nave existed. Then, like so many of its age it has been added to and restored many times. The Victorians were possibly the most energetic of its restorers. Among their many other activities they closed off the existing, much wider, windows and installed the narrow ones seen today.
From the tower, lookng East to Kelston Round Hill.
The tower was built during the reign of Edward III, in 1377. The pinnacles were constructed of oolitic limestone from nearby Lansdown; one of these was replaced in 2005. Cromwell and lightning share the blame for considerable damage: Cromwell's army used it (as many others) for aiming practice; cannonballs took chunks out of the north wall of the tower and, in 1680, lightning demolished the single spirette. This was rebuilt in 1842.
Entrance to West end.
At the time of the 1377 addition of the tower to the Nave, the original West door was moved outwards from the Nave to form the new entrance.
Roof timbers
In the restoration of the nave roof, Canon Ellacombe chose Mahogany from shipwrecks in the Bristol Channel.
The Chancel Arch
The Chancel was built in 1450 by John Grimsthorpe, later Dean of Wells. The Chancel arch was originally Saxon, but the Normans took one look and created a plain arch. The arch was restored in 1843 and the architects, Woods of Bath, recommended that the Norman look should be recreated. Canon Ellacombe agreed.
Chancel roof
Basalt, the hard, black volcanic rock, was used in the groined moulding of the vaulted roof in the Chancel. Specialists say that the work in this roof is a fine example of this process, known as basalt groining. The design was by John Grimsthorpe.
East window
The East window is Victorian.
The Reredos
Italian marble is used throughout the Chancel: here, in the reredos, as well as the steps and the floor of the Sanctuary.
Stone coffin
Placed now against the South wall of the Chancel, this stone coffin (probably Saxon) was discovered during excavations.
The King-Smith window
The window was presented in 1949 by the author of children's books, a local resident, Dick King-Smith. It commemorates his grandmother and father. For more information about his early life, look at the Penguin website (new window).
Pew ends
Today's pew-ends were designed by Ellacombe and made by apprentices who worked in the Dower House which, at that time, contained workshops servicing the group of houses adjoining the church.
The Font
The font is modern, but the interior is cairn stone sculpted in one piece. The wooden cover was made locally under Ellacombe's direction - possibly in the Dower House workshops.
Lady Chapel
St Catherine's Chapel (the Lady Chapel) was added in 1299 by Thomas de Bitton, Bishop of Exeter, in memory of his mother and father who are buried beneath sanctuary floor. The Lady Chapel as a whole was later taken over by Whittuck family; commemorated in the windows by the Altar. The Altar is the original which stood at the centre of the Nave. Originally there was a door in the North wall; the Normans rebuilt it in their own style and it was removed during the restoration and replaced by pillars. For some ten years during the 19c the Chapel served as the village Schoolroom.
Blocked South door
At the time of the Norman church there was a South door. It was blocked, as seen today, during the Victorian restoration.
Canon Ellacombe's grave
Links to other Bitton historical sites:
Bitton Parish Registers database