St Mary's Church, Hardington Bampfylde, Somerset

Address:
Pillar Lane, Frome, Somerset, BA11 2RE
How to find us | Access information
Opening times:
Open daily during daylight hours Please note the door can sometimes be stiff to open For more information about this church please contact the Local Community Officer Marie Leverett [email protected]
  • St Mary's Church in Hardington Bampfylde
  • Photo: The CCT
  • Overview
  • Map
  • What's nearby

A charming church that hides a tragic history

This peaceful church in a working farmyard has beautiful unspoilt Georgian furnishings and a wonderfully preserved Norman tower - one of the smallest complete church towers in England.

Yet the tranquil atmosphere hides a tragic history: the church and village became almost extinct during the Black Death of 1348.

The Bampfylde family restored the village fortunes in the fifteenth century, and inside the church you can see several Bampfylde memorials - as well as delightful box pews, pulpit and altar rails, also remains of wall paintings and a Royal Arms of Charles I.

  • Access information

    You can drive right up to the church (head left at the large Manor Farm sheds) and park on the small grass churchyard next to the church, in an area surrounded by farm buildings and houses. The entrance to the church is on the south side from the flat, small grass churchyard. There is one shallow step from the door to the stone tiled nave, and a further step up to the altar. The door can be stiff but should be open daily.

  • Facilities & Hire

    St Mary's Church is available to hire for events and is a unique and beautiful venue. Due to its historic nature the church has no heating, electricity, running water or toilet facilities so thought needs to be given for events longer than a couple of hours (e.g. portaloo hire).

    St  Mary's Church can seat 60 people. If you would like to hire this church please contact us here.

  • Directions

    3 miles north west of Frome, off A362

    From the A362 take Pillar Lane (you should see a brown 'historic church' sign pointing the way). The road to the church is just before you reach the group of farm buildings and is via a small unmarked road at the bend in Pillar Lane. If you reach the farm buildings you have gone too far and missed the turn off. The road is the entrance to Manor Farm and can be seen if you switch the Google map (see Map tab) to the satellite imagery instead of street map.

    You can drive right up to the church (head left at the large Manor Farm sheds) and park on the small grass churchyard next to the church, in an area surrounded by farm buildings and houses.

  • Transport
    Nearest railway station: Frome (4 miles)
  • History & Further Information
    Hardington Bampfylde St Mary's Church Plan

    Click here to download a copy of the Church Plan which sets out the shared vision for the future of the church. This is a working document that will be updated on a regular basis. If you have any feedback or if you want to contact us about the church plan please drop us a line. When you write, please do give the name of the church, thank you.

    Hardington Bampfylde is in our West region. We are actively looking for volunteers to help with fundraising for this church - if you can help, get in touch.

    Why not make your visit more enjoyable and informed by finding out more about this church before you visit? You can download a range of publications below including the relevant county guide, and any walk round guides we have for this church.

    Somerset County Guide

    This free of charge short guide contains details of all the churches we care for in Somerset. Printed copies of the county guide are also available at the church.

    St Mary's Hardington Bampfylde Guidebook

     

  • Volunteering Opportunities
    We are actively looking for volunteers to help with fundraising for this church - if you can help, get in touch.
  • Community information
    Hardington Bampfylde St Mary's Church Plan

    Click the link above to download a copy of the Church Plan which sets out the shared vision for the future of the church. This is a working document that will be updated on a regular basis. If you have any feedback or if you want to contact us about the church plan please drop us a line. When you write, please do give the name of the church, thank you!

    The Church of St Mary's, Hardington is in our west region.

    Useful local links:

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