The Priory Church of St. Andrew Stogursey
St. Andrew's Priory Church, Stogursey has been in existence for 900 years. "It has been a Benedictine Priory, a Roman Catholic Church, and now (for nearly 500 years) an Anglican parish Church. It is one of the most beautiful and historic churches in Somerset and is often referred to as the "Cathedral of the Quantocks." It merits three stars in Simon Jenkins' book, England's Thousand Best Churches. He refers to features, which are "wonderful survivals from the earliest period of Norman architecture in England." 1
The church, the first ministerial post of Rev. John Owsley, following his tenure as Clerk at Whittlebury Church, Northamptonshire, was built in the 11th century by William de Falaise, lord of the Honours of Stokes. He was a knight who came from Normandy with William the Conqueror. Between 1100 and 1107 the church was given to the Benedictine monks of Lonlay in Normandy and by 1120 they had built a priory and established a small community of monks in Stogursey. 1, 3 The Honour of Stokes subsequently passed by marriage to William de Curci4 -whereupon the borough and Honour became known as Stokes (or Stoke) Curci. 3
"Henry V seized the priory and its estates during the French Wars in 1414. It was in Crown hands when Henry VI founded Eton College in 1440. The priory and its revenues were transferred to the College. Its magnificent organ was built in 1839 by John Burnell." 1
"The Nave and Aisles were probably rebuilt in the 1420's, when the church became a parochial building, but the Arcades remained, as did some of the lower stonework. The Crossing Tower is almost certainly early Norman, as are the Transepts, with some later remodeling." 2
For a complete account of this church see this Newsletter's Book Department for ordering information of The Priory Church of St. Andrew, Stogursey, by Richard Ballard, 2nd Edition, 1992.
References and Places for Further Research
1. Church pamphlet
2. http://www.robm16.freeserve.co.uk/west/stogursey.htm
3. http://www.lisburn.com/books/historical_society/volume7
4. The Owsley Family Historical Society Newsletter.
5. The Priory Church of St. Andrew, Stogursey, by Richard Ballard, 2nd Edition 1992.
Photographs by Alan Tietjen and Milancie Adams
