St Mary the Virgin, East Brent, Somerset
Description
The church of St. Mary the Virgin is a building of stone in the Transition style, consisting of chancel, nave of five bays, aisles, south porch and an embattled western tower of five stages, with low pinnacles and a lofty spire, and containing a clock and 6 bells: on the south side of the chancel, which has been rebuilt, are two sedilia: the nave has a coved roof with pendants, one of which bears the date 1637: the organ gallery has a carved front dated 1635: the pulpit is apparently Jacobean, and is approached through the south wall; the north aisle, re-ceiled with oak about 1890, has some remains of a stone seat on the north side: the east window of the north aisle is filled with ancient glass illustrating the "Passion and Ascension of Our Lord," and the "Coronation of the Virgin;" there is another window in this aisle containing 16th century glass of figures of saints, and in some of the remaining windows are figures of winged seraphs: in the south aisle is the recumbent effigy of a priest in eucharistic vestments with the head on a double pillow, and in the splays of the window above are niches: at the east end of the aisle there remains a piscina: on the exterior of the church over the west window are several elaborate carvings in the canopied stages, representing the "Virgin and Child," "God the Father, holding the Crucifix on his knees," "Christ enthroned crowning the Virgin:" at the south-east angle of the church are the stairs formerly leading to the rood loft: the church also contains some tablets and monuments, including a large tablet to the Reed family, and one, placed in 1895, to commemorate the jubilee of the Ven. George Anthony Denison M.A. vicar 1845-96: there are in all eighteen stained windows: the nave is seated with fine oaken benches of the 15th century: the south aisle has been restored since 1873 at a cost of £500, and affords sittings for 450 persons. At the west end of the churchyard lies a mubilated effigy of a layman, temp. Rich. II. and on the south side are the remains of a cross, on an octagonal stepped base, restored in 1895.
Church Records
The parish register dates from the year 1556.