According to a plaque in the church, the church underwent a restoration in 1848, a water collector on the gutter on the southern side of the church has the year ‘1880’ and there was other restoration in 1889 (1889 (Western Daily Press Tue 6 Aug 1889 p3)
From the Bristol Mercury of Sat 10 Aug 1889 p3 of the supplement:
STANTON DREW CHURCH RESTORED.
On Thursday the fine old parish church of Stanton Drew was re-opened, after having been closed for a few months, during which time the sacred edifice has been in a very large degree restored. The building was renovated about 40 years ago, but the internal arrangements were left in a very imperfect condition, and further repairs have now effected a very considerable improvement. The old pews have been removed and re-placed by much more comfortable seats of pitch pine. The organ and organ gallery, which not been used for some years, have been entirely removed, and a large American organ provided. A new stone pulpit has been provided, as well as a handsome lectern and screen against the Lyde chapel. The sacrarium has been paved with glazed encaustic tiles, the altar raised and dossels added, with a Latin cross of burnished brass as the central emblem of the Faith upon a new retable. The oldest portion of the building is the early Norman font, and there are the remains of an early groined roof in the tower, the lower portion of which belongs to the Decorated period. There is one feature in the church which is peculiar; the old chancel has been surrendered into lay hands, probably some two centuries ago, and a new one added by its die. The spiral staircase leading to the rood loft which ran in front of the old chancel was discovered last year during the improvements.
In the Western Daily Press of Sat 13 Sep 1902 p6 was a report of raising funds for yet another round of improvements to the church, this time for a better heating system and the restoration of the tenor bell. To celebrate the coronation of King Edward VII they were placing an eight-day clock and consideration was being given to new churchyard.
From Clifton Society of Thu 17 Jun 1915 p13 in a report on a visit by the Somerset Archæological Society:
STANTON DREW CHURCH
After inspecting the famous megalithic remains the party paid a visit to the church, a short account of which was read by the newly appointed Vicar (the Rev. W. W. Warren). The foundations of the Church of St. Mary were evidently laid within the precincts of the surrounding Druidic remains. The oldest remaining portion of the Church is the Font the base of which seems older than the bowl, and belongs to the early Norman if not Saxon period. There are some fragments of Norman work found among the stones of the old bell-turret which apparently once formed part of a Norman Corbel Table. They are now placed for safety under the cap of the new bell-turret. The Church has gone through great changes and but little of the earlier structure is to be seen.
The original graveyard, around, the church has been extended southwards twice and now has a further extension which is administered by the (civil) parish council.
From the Bath Chronicle of Thu 24-May 1877 p7:
At a recent meeting of the Ruri-decanal Conference for the District of Chew Magna, Capt. Crothers and Mr. Arter were elected lay representatives, the Rev. E. W. Warren (rector of Compton Martin) and the Rev. T. B. H. Hawkins clerical representatives, of the district; Lieutenant-Colonel Hornidge was appointed treasurer, and the Rev. H. T. Perfect (vicar of Stanton Drew) secretary, as before. The subject for consideration was the burial question, and the following resolution was carried unanimously :— '*That the deliberate opinion of the conference, in regard to this matter, is against any further concessions to Dissenters other than legalising silent burial in our churchyards."
(The Burial Laws Amendment Act 1880 allowed burial in an Anglican churchyard without the rites of the Church of England although stipulating the ‘All burials under this Act, whether with or without a religious service, shall be conducted in a decent and orderly manner’.)
Historic England has designated some chest tombs as Grade II Listed. These are:
- Hazle monument in the churchyard about 5 metres west of south aisle of church
- Wight Preston monument in the churchyard about 4 metres north west of porch of church;
- unidentified monument in the churchyard about 4 metres north east of chancel of church;
- unidentified monument in the churchyard about 3 metres east of south chapel of church.
The church itself is Grade II* listed.
Notable Individuals
Michael Foster (1689-1763)
Recorder of Bristol from 1735. In 1743 in a legal case judged that impressment (taking of men into a military or naval force by compulsion, with or without notice) was legal. He was made a justice of the King's Bench in 1745 and knighted. A plaque in the church records that he is buried here. A book was published in 2018 entitled The Life of Sir Michael Foster, knt.; Sometime one of the Judges of the Court of King's Bench, and Recorder of Bristol by Michael Dodson.
The Lyde Family
Several members of the Lyde family are buried in the church and, by the porch, there is a Lyde Chapel. This family were tobacco merchants in Bristol and London with plantations in Virginia.
James Lyde (1670-1731) A merchant in Bristol succeeding his father in the business. His will has a series of bequests which include property in and near Stanton Drew, as well as a share in a 'plantation near Potomack River in Virginia with negrees'.
(The colony of Virginia was established by the Virginia Company of London in 1607 as a result of charter from King James I.)
William Wyllys (1780-1860)
Of Morley House, Stanton Drew. He is listed as an absentee slave-owner. After the death of his wife Mary he married someone 40 years younger than him.
