The parish church of St Mary the Virgin has been in existence for a very long time with a recorded list of rectors dating back as far as 1265. It has had many additions and alterations since it was built with considerable reconstruction of the tower in 1637.
Constructed from soft Blue Lias stone it was initially protected with lime plaster which was removed in Victorian times. This led to the exposed stones deteriorating but thankfully the village rallied together and raised a considerable sum for the repairs which were completed in 2006.
Just outside the chancel door there is a stone sarcophagus standing about 2 ft high, even though the stone is broken into three pieces there is still a legible inscription reading:
Here lyeth the body of Jane Jenckines
the wife of M. Hugh Jenkines
parson of Kilve
who dyed 20th of April
anno domyny
The date might be 1611 or 1618 as it has deteriorated. Which do you think it is?
Inside the church you will find a stone font which dates back to the 12th century, suggesting people have been baptised at it for 800 years.
Further back into the church, in the chancel (this is the part which houses the altar), you will find examples of medieval glass and a medieval wooden panel in the choir stalls, the latter dated to 1687. Above the main doorway sits the Royal Coat of Arms of King Charles II dated 1660 and celebrating the restoration of the monarchy.
The church has seen many generations come and go with the register of burials dating back to 1530, baptisms to 1591 and marriages to 1632. Records show that between 1578 and 2008 there had been 813 burials and 699 baptisms.
Chapter one
The Church of St Mary the Virgin
Chapter two
The Lost Crypt
During Christmas 2012 a pipe fractured, spilling some 500 litres of oil. The insurance company put the specialist company RAW on the case to deal with the contamination and brought video probes to see where the oil had gone.
The initial investigations took place on 14th February 2013 and seemed to suggest that the oil had seeped into a void underneath the chancel. On Tuesday 23rd April 2013, the floor was opened up to allow a camera to be inserted so that the void could be investigated further.
The results had the archaeologist dancing in the aisles as a whole crypt / vault appeared containing four lead coffins; as well as a considerable amount of heating oil on the crypt floor. This void has now been resealed and vented to the outside so that none of the oil vapours can permeate into the church. Unfortunately there was insufficient detail to get any dates from the coffins with a camera, but the pictures do seem to reinforce the notion that there may have been a tunnel between the church and the chantry (the next building on our tour). There may even be more vaults under the nave; but at this stage there is no proof.
The initial investigations took place on 14th February 2013 and seemed to suggest that the oil had seeped into a void underneath the chancel. On Tuesday 23rd April 2013, the floor was opened up to allow a camera to be inserted so that the void could be investigated further.
The results had the archaeologist dancing in the aisles as a whole crypt / vault appeared containing four lead coffins; as well as a considerable amount of heating oil on the crypt floor. This void has now been resealed and vented to the outside so that none of the oil vapours can permeate into the church. Unfortunately there was insufficient detail to get any dates from the coffins with a camera, but the pictures do seem to reinforce the notion that there may have been a tunnel between the church and the chantry (the next building on our tour). There may even be more vaults under the nave; but at this stage there is no proof.
Chapter three
Repairs and the Secret Passages
A local newspaper cutting from the 1930's reads:
'Whilst repairs were being carried out at Kilve church, there opened out on the north east side of the chancel an early English doorway and one and a half arches. They evidently led to or formed part of, the chantry chapel which existed in about 1329. In that year, Sir Simon de Furneaux founded a chantry for five priests to pray for his soul and that of his wife.'
Have a look and see if you can spot where this may have been. Walk up the aisle and look to the left of the choir stalls.
There is a note with this cutting written by local resident John Lock who passed away in 1913 (not to be confused with the venerable Somerset philosopher John Lock 1632–1704).
‘I remember my grandmother Lock telling me about her husband George being present when the above work was being carried out and the doorway mentioned led to a tunnel which ended at the old chantry. She said the arched doorway was behind what are now the choir stalls' (left hand side facing the altar).
'Whilst repairs were being carried out at Kilve church, there opened out on the north east side of the chancel an early English doorway and one and a half arches. They evidently led to or formed part of, the chantry chapel which existed in about 1329. In that year, Sir Simon de Furneaux founded a chantry for five priests to pray for his soul and that of his wife.'
Have a look and see if you can spot where this may have been. Walk up the aisle and look to the left of the choir stalls.
There is a note with this cutting written by local resident John Lock who passed away in 1913 (not to be confused with the venerable Somerset philosopher John Lock 1632–1704).
‘I remember my grandmother Lock telling me about her husband George being present when the above work was being carried out and the doorway mentioned led to a tunnel which ended at the old chantry. She said the arched doorway was behind what are now the choir stalls' (left hand side facing the altar).
Chapter four
Yew Tree
If we go back outside there is a rose bed which was the site of St Mary's yew tree which came down in a storm in the 1950's. Yews are commonly found to be planted in church yards across England and their geographical relationship to the chapel, whether they lie to the east or west, has been linked to the site being identified as Saxon or Christian.
Interestingly yew trees are poisonous to livestock, and are perhaps a simple way to stop locals grazing their animals over consecrated ground.
A yew tree in Fortingall, Perthshire, Scotland is reputably to be 2000 years old making it the oldest known living tree in Europe, although the Somerset village of Ashbrittle claims their yew to be around 3000 years old! Both claims are widely contested as many trees have a tendency to be broken or blown down and then sprout fresh again from the root. These then become fully grown new trees which are genetically identical to the former, making the task of aging the tree almost impossible.
In Shakespeare, Hamlet's uncle poisoned the King (his father) by pouring yew sap into his ear as he slept. The ghost of the King spoke to Hamlet:
Upon my secure hour thy uncle stole,
With juice of cursed hebenon in a vial,
And in the porches of my ears did pour
The leperous distilment;
Interestingly yew trees are poisonous to livestock, and are perhaps a simple way to stop locals grazing their animals over consecrated ground.
A yew tree in Fortingall, Perthshire, Scotland is reputably to be 2000 years old making it the oldest known living tree in Europe, although the Somerset village of Ashbrittle claims their yew to be around 3000 years old! Both claims are widely contested as many trees have a tendency to be broken or blown down and then sprout fresh again from the root. These then become fully grown new trees which are genetically identical to the former, making the task of aging the tree almost impossible.
In Shakespeare, Hamlet's uncle poisoned the King (his father) by pouring yew sap into his ear as he slept. The ghost of the King spoke to Hamlet:
Upon my secure hour thy uncle stole,
With juice of cursed hebenon in a vial,
And in the porches of my ears did pour
The leperous distilment;
Chapter five
The Wheel Wrights
Before we head to the chantry, there is an opportunity to see the image above of Kilve's wheel wright workshop. This image would have taken 15 minutes to expose on the photographic plate, which means that the figures you see had to remain still for that duration of time for them to be captured.
The building was located on the A39 in the main part of the village although demolished many years ago. It is a fascinating insight into an essential craft of a past era.
The building was located on the A39 in the main part of the village although demolished many years ago. It is a fascinating insight into an essential craft of a past era.
Continue down the road to the remains of The Chantry and Manor house.