About Us

St Mary Magdalene in Chewton Mendip is one of six churches which is (soon to become) part of the 'East Mendip Hills' Benefice.

Each month, Chewton Mendip holds a Holy Communion service, which is open to all.

St Mary Magdalene Church is featured in Simon Jenkins' book 'England's Thousand Best Churches'. It is the largest in the benefice and has considerable open spaces within it. The church is set on the top of the hill overlooking the village and it is only a few minutes walk from the rectory and local primary school. 

The tower, with an outstanding peal of 8 bells, can be seen for miles around and the clock chimes every quarter hour. There is a large vestry, a small dedicated space for making hot drinks at the rear and plenty of parking. The churchyard is open, but space is now limited in the South Churchyard and so permission has been granted to reuse parts of the North Churchyard. There is also a fully working organ. 

Fabric/Repairs:

The fabric is in very good order. Many repairs have been carried out internally and externally since 1980, the most recent (2003) being substantial stonework conservation on the Tower at a cost of the order of £62,000. The majority of this amount was received from a single benefactor with the balance being raised locally.

The organ was completely rebuilt in 1994. 

History:

The church is an imposing one dominated by a tall west tower begun in c.1440 and completed around a century later. It consists otherwise of a nave and chancel with a south aisle and porch to the nave and a south chapel to the chancel. Also on the south side is a large vestry. Norman work is seen in the north doorway, corbels re-used on the wall above it, and inside the east wall of the nave has the remains of Norman arches flanking the later chancel arch. Construction is of coursed and squared rubble and ashlar, with freestone dressings, and the church was restored by Giles and Robinson in 1865.

For further information, see: https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1345137?section=official-list-entry