Thurloxton: Church

CHURCH.

The church of Thurloxton may have been one of the daughter churches and chapels of the minster church of North Petherton, in which residuary rights were granted to Buckland priory before 1176. (fn. 1) By 1195 and probably much earlier it had become an independent rectory, and by that year a temporary vicarage had been established. (fn. 2) The rectory remained a sole benefice until 1896; it was held 1896-1904 with Durston, with which it was united 1904-61. (fn. 3) From 1961 until 1975 it was again a sole living. (fn. 4) From 1975 Thurloxton was held with North Newton and St. Michaelchurch and in 1978 the united benefice of North Newton with St. Michaelchurch, Thurloxton, and Durston was created. (fn. 5)

The church evidently belonged to the lords of the manor in the 12th century, and the advowson passed to Taunton priory either with the manor by gift of Cecily la Brett or by her brother Simon le Brett's gift to William Wroth and the gift to the priory (fn. 6) of William's great-nephew Geoffrey of Scoland (d. c. 1288). (fn. 7) Until the Dissolution the priory held the advowson, (fn. 8) which presumably passed with the manor. By the early 17th century it belonged to the Portman family, (fn. 9) who held it until 1944 when patronage was transferred to the bishop. (fn. 10)

In 1535 the rectory was worth £7 4s. a year gross (fn. 11) and c. 1688 about £80. (fn. 12) Average annual income 1829-31 was put at £180. (fn. 13) In 1535 tithes and offerings amounted to £4 4s. (fn. 14) Tithes and moduses were let in the early 19th century (fn. 15) and were commuted for a rent charge of £102 17s. 2d. in 1838. (fn. 16) The glebe lands were valued at £3 a year in 1535 (fn. 17) and in 1613 comprised 86 a., of which 26 a. were in North Petherton parish. (fn. 18) In 1877 c. 50 a. in Thurloxton and North Petherton were exchanged with Edward Portman, Viscount Portman. (fn. 19) In 1930 Glebe farm, then 76 a., was sold to the Portman trustees, (fn. 20) leaving c. 6½ a. which remained in 1978, mainly around the old rectory house. (fn. 21)

The medieval rectory house probably stood south of the church (fn. 22) on land known in 1838 as Parsonage plot. (fn. 23) By 1613 it had been replaced by a house north-west of the church, comprising a hall, kitchen, and buttery with chambers over and outbuildings. (fn. 24) From 1623 the house was regularly presented as being in need of repair, (fn. 25) notably in 1637 when the patron, Sir William Portman, took the rector to the ecclesiastical court. (fn. 26) A new house was built, possibly c. 1799, (fn. 27) on a slightly different site, (fn. 28) and was enlarged in 1868 by the addition of a new front containing two rooms and an entrance hall. (fn. 29) Built of stone and cob, it had six bedrooms, two reception rooms, study, kitchen, coach house, and stable when it was offered for sale in 1962. A new house was completed in 1964 nearer the church. (fn. 30)

There was a brotherhood in the parish in 1532. (fn. 31) The church lacked a chalice and service books in 1554 (fn. 32) and in 1594 a bible and book of homilies. (fn. 33) From 1600 rectors were often nonresident: in 1603 the parish was served by an unlicensed curate and in 1606 by an illiterate parish clerk. (fn. 34) The parish shared a curate with St. Michaelchurch in 1606 and 1609. (fn. 35) A deacon was made rector in 1689. (fn. 36) James Woodforde was curate for three months in 1763. (fn. 37) His successor served as resident curate for 44 years. (fn. 38) About 1800 there were only 12 communicants. (fn. 39) In the early 19th century successive vicars of Creech St. Michael served the cure (fn. 40) and there was only one Sunday service at Thurloxton. (fn. 41) In 1843 communion was celebrated three times a year and the Sunday service alternated between morning and afternoon. (fn. 42) In 1904 Robert Bartlett resigned after being resident rector for 45 years. (fn. 43)

A church house mentioned in 1698 appears to have been a dwelling. (fn. 44) It was repaired by the churchwardens in 1766 and 1770 and was last recorded in 1777. It may have been used as a poorhouse. (fn. 45)

The church of ST. GILES, so dedicated by 1529, (fn. 46) comprises a chancel with north vestry, a nave with north aisle and south porch, and a west tower. The south wall of the nave and chancel, and possibly the tower, date from the 12th century. The chancel was enlarged in the 13th century, and was in need of repair in 1318. (fn. 47) The east window dates from the 14th century, and the tower was also then remodelled and given a new west window. The west door was probably inserted in 1500, the date on the external west wall. The south porch was added in the late 16th or early 17th century. A gallery was inserted before c. 1800. (fn. 48) After a storm in 1840 the pinnacles were removed from the tower. (fn. 49) The vestry was added shortly after 1856 (fn. 50) and the north aisle was built in 1868 when the church was restored. (fn. 51) At a further restoration in 1881 new ceilings were installed and the gallery was taken down. (fn. 52)

The plain font, perhaps of c. 1100, has an octagonal, crocketted cover of the 14th century. The communion table is Elizabethan; the screen and pulpit both contain 17th-century woodwork, probably remodelled in the mid 18th century. The pulpit has figures similar to those at North Newton and an angel bearing a shield with the date 1634. The screen bears the date 1750 painted over the names of the churchwardens of 1634. (fn. 53) The pews at the west end were made in 1773 (fn. 54) but others date from the 17th century.

The five bells include one of c. 1350 from Bristol, a late medieval bell from Exeter, and another of the late 16th-century by Roger Semson. (fn. 55) The plate includes a cup and cover by Ions of Exeter c. 1574 and a salver given by Mary Keyt in 1749. (fn. 56) The registers date from 1558 and are complete. (fn. 57)