Church of the Holy Ghost, Crowcombe

Church of the Holy Ghost
Location within Somerset
General information
Town or city	Crowcombe
Country	England
Coordinates	51°07′24″N 3°13′46″W / 51.1233°N 3.2294°W / 51.1233; -3.2294
Completed	15th century

The Church of the Holy Ghost in Crowcombe, Somerset, England has a tower dating from the 14th century with the rest of the building being dated at the 15th century. It has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade I listed building.^[1]

There was a previous church on the site, possible dating from the Saxon era.^[2] The north chapel is known as the Carew Chapel and was used by the lords of the manor who lived in the nearby Crowcombe Court.^[3]

In 1724 the spire was damaged by a lightning strike. The top section of the spire was removed and is now planted in the churchyard ^[4] and stone from the spire was used in the flooring of the church. Inside the church carved bench-ends, dating from 1534,^[5] depict such pagan subjects as the Green Man and the legend of the men of Crowcombe fighting a two-headed dragon.^[6]

The parish is part of the Quantock Towers benefice within the Quantock deanery.^[7]

Opposite the church is the Church House and Pound which was built around 1515 for parish functions. It is a Grade II* listed building^[8] and was refurbished in 2007.^[9]

See also

• List of Grade I listed buildings in West Somerset
• List of towers in Somerset

References

1. ^ "Church of the Holy Ghost". Images of England. http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/details/default.aspx?id=265086. Retrieved 17 November 2007. 
2. ^ "Crowcombe". Quantock Online. http://www.quantockonline.co.uk/quantocks/villages/crowcombe/crowcombe1.html. Retrieved 22 September 2011. 
3. ^ "Crowcombe". Everything Exmoor. http://exmoorencyclopedia.org.uk/contents-list/35-c/288-crowcombe.html. Retrieved 22 September 2011. 
4. ^ "Remains of spire, in churchyard, 15 metres east of chancel, Church of the Holy Ghost". Images of England. http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/details/default.aspx?id=265089. Retrieved 17 November 2007. 
5. ^ "Crowcombe". Everything Exmoor. http://www.secretpeople.co.uk/_C/Crowcombe.php. Retrieved 17 November 2007. 
6. ^ "History". Crowcombe. http://www.crowcombe.org.uk/history.htm. Retrieved 17 November 2007. 
7. ^ "Holy Ghost, Crowcombe". Church of England. http://acny.co.uk/11327/. Retrieved 22 September 2011. 
8. ^ "Church House and Pound". Images of England. http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/details/default.aspx?id=265100. Retrieved 17 November 2007. 
9. ^ "Crowcombe Chuirch House". Somerset Rural Renaissance. http://www.somerset-rural-renaissance.co.uk/projects-crowcombe-church-upgrade.html. Retrieved 14 May 2010.