← Database
the Holy Cross

The Holy Cross

Babcary

Somerset

Fabric of C14, C15 with chancel and north aisle added in C19, latter by Benjamin Ferrey in 1875-6.

Architectural Features

3-light early C15 style traceried east window under arched label with square stops

on south side two 2-light early C15 style printed arched windows with square stop labels, and between them a small doorway with moulded 4-centre arches: head under square stopped label.

The C19 north aisle has a plinth, angled corner buttresses with moulded offsets: 2-light arched window matching the chancel window in the east wall, with plain stop label and external terrmenta this could be a reset C15 window: the north wall has a shallow coping over eaves moulding with gargoyles

the centre bay has a 3-light and the others 2-light windows with C16 style tracery of ogees and quatrefoils to flat arched lights with deep square labels to foliated stops: no west window to aisle.

in south wall the eastern window is 3-light possibly C15, with ogee traceried flat arched window in hollowed recess under square label with animal stops

the roof probably C15, an archbraced collar truss of 2 bays with moulded main members and various timber bosses

Tower could be C14: 3 stages, with plinth, string courses, with gargoyles to top string, shallow battlemented parapet

square plan north-east stair turret with 3 slit windows and two double quatrefoil pierced panels: on west face low moulded pointed arched doorway with arched label, and above a 3-light C15 traceried window in slightly hollowed recess under arched label extended as side string

early C14 tall pointed arched piscina with stone shelf chancel arch nearly 4-centred, with small centre shaft columns and turned caps

Fittings include octagonal panelled wood pulpit dated 1632

ST5628 : Babcary, Holy Cross Church: c14th font on a c19th base

font probably C14, octagonal with quatrefoil panelled faces, traceried underbowl and rather slim traceried octagonal shalt on C19 base.

ST5628 : Babcary, Holy Cross Church: c14th font on a c19th base

© Michael Garlick

First recorded rector 1319: Parson Woodforde, diarist, was curate here from January 1764 to October 1765.