St Catherine
Drayton, Somerset
The ancient cross in the churchyard is 15th century and two giant yews were grown to provide soldier’s bows and are said to be among the oldest in the diocese.
A hamstone building, north of the village green. The church was built around 1500, but there was a church here in 1086 (Domesday survey), possibly even long before the Norman Conquest. The entrance to the church is a handsome two storey porch, on either side of which are windows with superb tracery. The church has a battlemented roofline on which are carvings including people playing musical instruments such as bagpipes, fiddles, bagpipes and horns. There is an ornamental frieze across the front and the portcullis family badge, pointing to Lady Margaret Beaufort (mother of King Henry VII) who held estates nearby. Carved figures (grotesques), known as ‘hunky-punks’ look out from each top corner of the tower (rebuilt 1861). There is a peal of eight bells, tuned to E flat. The oldest is from 1610; the heaviest is 15cwt.
The inside of the church is full of interest, the oldest part being the 13th century north chapel, which has a tomb thought to be of Sabrina de Lorty, the chapel's founder. Behind railings, and under a semi circular canopy, are the beautifully made effigies of Marmaduke Jennings and his son Robert, and these date from the early 17th century. They lived in a mansion at Burton Pynsent, later owned by William Pitt the Elder. Recesses in north wall contain effigies; the knightly maybe of Baron Henry de Lorti I (d1242) or his grandson Henry de Lorti II (d1321), resting on a tomb chest. Lady Sabina's maiden name, Revel, is from Revel in France and gave their name to Curry Rivel. There is carved woodwork from the 15th and 16th centuries includes bench ends, two screens and the roof of the north aisle.
In the nave is a hamstone arcade, pulpit with Byzantine colonettes and lovely carved ends on Victorian pews. The northeast window has Victorian glass, some older, depicting three kings with local connections: Ine (King of Wessex); Alfred (hid at Athelney) and Arthur. The east window has roundel 12th century glass from Canterbury Cathedral, a gift from daughter of Dean Farrar. The window on the south side of the altar has panels engraved 1987 by Laurence Whistler. The window near the late Victorian 2-manual organ is by CE Kemp and from 1913.
The font, near the main door, has memorial to Pitt family’s Nanny beside it. The lozenge shaped hatchment nearby is of her employer, Lady Hester Pitt, wife of William Pitt the Elder.