Church of St Mary Magdelene, Exford
{{Short description|15th-century Anglican church in Somerset, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox historic site
| name = Church of St Mary Magdelene
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| image = St. Mary Magdalene Church, Exford (8386712523).jpg
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| locmapin = Somerset
| coordinates = {{coord|51.1344|-3.6341|type:landmark_region:GB|display=inline,title}}
| location = Exford, Somerset, England
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| built = 15th century
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| designation1 = Grade II* listed building
| designation1_offname = Church of St Mary Magdelene
| designation1_date = 6 April 1969
| designation1_number = 1057319
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The Anglican Church of St Mary Magdelene in Exford, Somerset, England, was built in the 15th century. It is a Grade II* listed building.{{cite web|title=Church of St Mary Magdalene|url=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1057319|website=National Heritage List for England|publisher=Historic England|accessdate=16 September 2017}}
History
Nothing remains of the original church on the site which may have existed at the time of the Norman Conquest.{{cite web|title=St Mary Magdalene Church, Exford|url=http://exfordparishcouncil.org/exford-church|publisher=Exford Parish Council|accessdate=16 September 2017}}
The tower survives from the mid 15th century and the south aisle from 1532 to 1542. A Victorian restoration in 1867 included the rebuilding of the nave and chancel when the porch was added.
The church was dedicated to St Salvyn,{{cite web|title=Church of St. Salvyn|url=http://www.exmoorian.co.uk/church-st-salvyn.htm|publisher=Exmoorian|accessdate=16 September 2017}} who is represented in the stained glass alongside St Francis and St George.{{cite web|title=St Mary Magdalene|url=http://www.exford.org/community/st_mary_magdalene/history.php|publisher=Exford|accessdate=16 September 2017}}
The parish is part of the Exmoor benefice within the Diocese of Bath and Wells.{{cite web|title=St Mary Magdalene, Exford|url=https://www.achurchnearyou.com/exford-st-mary-magdalene/|website=A Church Near You|publisher=Church of England|accessdate=16 September 2017}}
Architecture
The red sandstone building has slate roofs. It consists of a three-bay nave, four-bay south aisle with porch and a chancel. The three-stage west tower is supported by diagonal buttresses. It holds six bells the oldest of which cast by George Purdue in 1603.{{cite book|last1=Allen|first1=N. V.|title=Churches and Chapels of Exmoor|date=1974|publisher=Exmoor Press|isbn=978-0900131165|page=55}}
The interior has a Victorian stone reredos with a panelled screen from 1923 forming the vestry. The fan-vaulted screen with the remains of friezes was originally made for St Audries Church in West Quantoxhead in the 15th century and moved to Exford and reassembled in 1929.{{cite web|title=Exford Church|url=https://www.victoriacountyhistory.ac.uk/explore/items/exford-church|publisher=Victoria County History|accessdate=16 September 2017}} The parish chest is from 1772. The organ was designed by Ninian Comper and presented to the church in 1924.
In the churchyard there is the stump of a late 13th century stone cross.{{cite web|title=Remains of churchyard cross, about one metre south of south aisle, Church of St Mary Magdalene|url=https://www.historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1345715|website=National Heritage List for England|publisher=Historic England|accessdate=16 September 2017}}{{cite web|title=MSO11247 - St Mary Magdalene's Church and Churchyard, Exford|url=https://www.exmoorher.co.uk/hbsmr-web/record.aspx?MSO11247-Church-of-St-Mary-Magdalene-churchyard-cross-and-poor-house-site-Exford|website=Exmoor Historic Environment Record|publisher=Exmoor National Park|accessdate=16 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170916225340/https://www.exmoorher.co.uk/hbsmr-web/record.aspx?MSO11247-Church-of-St-Mary-Magdalene-churchyard-cross-and-poor-house-site-Exford|archive-date=16 September 2017|url-status=dead}}
See also
References
{{Commons category|St Mary Magdalene's Church, Exford, Somerset}}
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