SomersetILMINSTERStMaryVirgin(julianpguffoggCC-BY-SA2.0)1 JulianPGuffogg

St Mary

There has been a church on this site since at least 762, but the present building dates from the second half of the 15th century.

Ilminster, Somerset

Opening times

Open most days during daylight hours.

Address

Silver Street
Ilminster
Somerset
TA19 0DU

There were restorations and rebuilds in 1825 and again in 1882 and these changed the internal arrangements, firstly to put galleries up, then to take them down.

The church interior remains tall, light and airy, in no small part due to the clerestory windows.

The pride of Ilminster is the Wadham Chapel, which on the outside is a masterpiece of Perpendicular architecture.

Inside are monuments to the Wadham family. There is a 15th century table tomb to Sir William Wadham and his mother, and a 17th century tomb chest and wall monument to Nicholas Wadham and his wife Dorothy, the founders of Wadham College, Oxford.

Both tombs have magnificent brasses.

  • Spectacular stained glass

  • Social heritage stories

  • National heritage here

  • Magnificent memorials

  • Glorious furnishings

  • Fascinating churchyard

  • Captivating architecture

  • Walkers & cyclists welcome

  • Space to secure your bike

  • Parking within 250m

  • On street parking at church

  • Level access to the main areas

  • Dog friendly

  • Accessible toilets nearby

  • Church of England

Contact information

Other nearby churches

St Mary Magdalene

Stocklinch, Somerset

Two legendary sisters both fell in love with the vicar and each built a church for his benefit, so even though Stocklinch is a small village, there are two churches.

St Mary the Virgin

Isle Abbotts, Somerset

Like so many Somerset churches, Isle Abbots has a splendid tower, and this one is especially graceful, built of Ham stone between 1510 and 1520, with three distinct stages.