In 1633 a declaration was read in the church on three separate Sundays before Easter condemning Sunday amusements. This was done by the command of the Judge on the Western Circuit. As a result the Judges were severely taken to task by the Archbishop for taking this course of action without his consent. Two years later in 1635 a visitor to the parish wrote that the sermons of Parson Chapman were so bad that “the parish dog-whipper could do as well”.

In 1665, the year before the Great Plague in London, there was an outbreak in Bridgwater (which was a thriving sea port). The country round about escaped the plague but the country people were afraid to venture into the town to trade. As a result a meeting place was arranged in this Parish near Horsey Lane at what was called the ‘Watch Elm’. A large stone is said to have marked the spot where the tree stood. It was here that the country people and the town’s people met to trade their produce and wares.

In 1681 one of the most tragic of stories reputedly unfolded in Bawdrip.

“Edward Lovell married Eleanor Bradford, by who he had two daughters, Eleanor and Mary. Eleanor, the daughter, heiress of the family honour and estate, died June 14, 1681. Her most sorrowing husband mourned her, taken away by a sudden and untimely fate at the very time of her marriage celebration, and wished this monument to be put up”.

Tradition associates the tragic death of Eleanor Lovell on her wedding day with the woeful ballard ‘The Mistletoe Bough’, compiled by Thomas Haynes Bayly, son of a Bath solicitor, some time after 1820. He tells of a fair young bride of one Lovell, son of a medieval baron, who, playing hide and seek in the revels of her wedding day, hid in an ancient chest. Its spring lock shut firmly behind her and she was imprisoned and not found for many years. This tragic fate has long been believed to have occurred in the Rectory. It has also been linked to Knowle Manor – Knowle Hall being the newer building on the same site and being at one time the residence of Cromwell’s General-at-Sea, Admiral Robert Blake (the most notable son of Bridgwater). Thomas Bayly was born in 1797 and lived until 1839. His ballad, based on medieval times, was composed of the happenings and stories gleaned in his own lifetime and can not be related to historical fact. However Thomas Bayly may be related to the Thomas Bayley recorded on the treble bell of 1745. In addition the Lovell family were not only associated with Bawdrip but were descendants of Walter de Douai who owned the Parish in 1086.

In 1720 many repairs to the church were carried out. It is probable that the lead roof of the central tower was replaced at this time, as there are a number of initials carved in the lead at the top of the bell tower. There is also the outline of a shoe.

In 1866 The Rev J. M. Warren died. He is remembered as the restorer of the church in the dedication at the base of the stain glass window above the altar. As well as saving the church from certain ruin he also sought to increase the grandeur of the small country church. During the restoration services were taken in the tithe barn (destroyed in 1886). Its cruciform shape remained unchanged, being one of only a few in the country to be of this shape. The floor level was lowered by some two feet with the result that there are now three steps down into the church. He also was responsible for raising the roof in the north and south aisles, the original roofline being still visible on the tower wall, removal of the mezzanine floor in the north aisle and creation of the new external door and steps up to the tower. The roof was also replaced during his time and the Victorian nails used are almost completely rusted through. The building was in an increasingly decrepit state in the mid-1800’s and this had become critical by 1864 as the following extracts from the minutes book demonstrate….

“Sept. 2nd 1864, … the best and wisest course, is to take down the fabric – with the exception of the tower, which is in good preservation – and to rebuild it from the ground.“  However by the following year the plan had changed somewhat and it is due to this change that the church we see today is as it is.  The rebuilding was abandoned as being too expensive…

 “June 5th 1865…it was unanimously agreed that the plan for rebuilding the church be abandoned and in lieu thereof that the sum of £600 consisting of – loan from the from the Government Public Works Board.” Public Works Board of £200, Rev John Warren donation £200, promised contributions £170, sales of old material £30, – be expended on the general repair and restoration of the church. The Rev. John Warren undertook to repay all expenses hitherto incurred and engaged to provide the following, 1st to repair and secure the foundation and piers of the tower, 2nd to roof and floor the church throughout, 3rd to repair and point the external walls and stucco the inner surfaces, 4th to repair and glaze anew the windows throughout, 5th to provide a new entrance to the belfry outside the church.”

To quote from the British newspaper archives (Summarised by Carol Hudson):

“The rebuilding of the church was carried out by Abraham Squibbs from Bridgwater, took nearly two years and  cost around £1500.   The tower was the only part of the original building to survive, much of the old stone was reused and any extra required was quarried locally.    The Bridgwater firm of Major & Major supplied the roof tiles and the red floor tiles.  The high-backed pews were removed and modern pews installed.   The pews reserved for the use of the Greenhill family who lived in Knowle Hall were moved to the site of the vestry which, it was believed, had once been a hermitage where a hermit lived behind an iron grating from which he could watch the Services and where food and drink were handed to him.   Many people in the neighbourhood had made gifts towards the rebuilding, the most generous being:  Benjamin Cuff Greenhill, the three stained glass windows which represented the baptism, crucifixion and resurrection;  Mrs. Page, widow of a late rector, the new stone pulpit and The Sisters of Mercy a richly embroidered crimson velvet altar cloth.   The reopening of the church in May 1867 was a joyous celebration.    The bells rang out, a Union Jack was raised on the tower and the church was beautifully decorated with flowers both inside and out.  Holy Communion was celebrated at 8.30 a.m., followed by a Morning Service at 11.00 which was attended by 217 ticket holders.   A large number of clergy formed a procession into the church, followed by lunch at the Rectory.   A third service was held in the evening and on the following day, the Rev. John Warren entertained everyone who had helped with the restoration.”  

It becomes clear why the Rev. Warren has his name on the window above the altar with the words of the dedication remembering him as the ‘restorer of the church’.

The year before he died a prayer request was received and was to be read out on the 8th October. This was a prayer for relief from plague in cattle and for protection against cholera. He was succeeded by his son Rev. John Warren (1886-1901). Another request was received by post from the Bishop of Bath and Well in 1892 and was related to the ‘ravages of influenza’ and removal of the plague and to express sympathy with the Queen and Prince of Wales (Jan 19th 1892).

Oil and candlelight was used to light the church and this was replaced by electric light in 1950 – the installation work being carried out by F. W. Welsh of High Street, Bridgwater. More recently the old pot bellied stove that stood outside the vestry area was replaced by electric heating. Whilst it did throw out a lot of heat when it got going the stove also got dangerously hot and at least one bride had to be saved from singeing by her husband! The organ was also moved from the chancel to its current location in the South Aisle.

Although we are now part of a United Benefice with Woolavington, Cossington and Puriton and Pawlett, a sense of independence is still to be found in Bawdrip and worship continues in the church with services every Sunday. Details can be found on the notice board by the South Gate. We hope you have enjoyed finding out a little more about our church and some of its history and that you will visit us again.