Hamming it up in Somerset - part 3

St Dunstan, Baltonsborough
Originally uploaded by ChurchCrawler

ST DUNSTAN, BALTONSBOROUGH
Be warned - Church Lane here does not take you to the church! The approach is from the east, and the church is a rarity, one built all in one go in C15 Perpendicular. Two east gables made me suspect an aisle but this is an illusion. The principle feature outside is the bizarre early C19 ironwork weather vane on top of the shallow pyramidal roof of the tower, something I managed to chop off in most of my external snaps! The sound of J S Bach could be heard outside, and inside I was treated to a free recital as I looked around. This always makes me linger and see more but there is plenty to see, if you accept that nothing here is of "top" quality. The south door starts it off, C15 ironwork with an original sanctuary knocker on a multi-studded medieval wooden frame. Most of the pews are original too, and one has a little fold-out seat, another with an alms box on a paneeled square pier. The roof above is also original, a ceiled wagon roof with ribs and bosses, and there is a ceilure over the east end. The pulpit is stone, C15, like the font. The tower screen has a balustrade which may be the former altar rails (these appear Jacobean). Similar roof in the chancel embellished by female figures holding shields - if these were angels then their wings have been clipped. Piscina in chancel with traces of colour, and an aumbry opposite with an original door. Back outside and the churchyard cross, now C19 incorporates a medieval depiction of the Crucifixion.