Saint Mary's Minster Berkeley Gloucestershire

St. Mary’s Church

Welcome!

About Berkeley

A Walking Tour

There has been a church in Berkeley since Saxon times, but the majority of the present building dates back to the early 13th Century. What is remarkable is the sheer size of the building, compared to the smallness of the town. However bear in mind that Berkeley was an important centre in the Middle Ages and the church was a “minster”, from which clergy were sent all over the West of England.

The tower is of interest because it is separated from the rest of the church. It is built on the site of an earlier church, that has since disappeared, although traces were found in the garden of the Jenner Museum. It dates from the 17th Century, so is considerably newer than the rest of the church .

The churchyard is notable for the number of table tombs all of which are listed buildings in their own right. The most famous is the tomb of Dicky Pearce, the last court jester in England who died while performing in Berkeley Castle. The epitaph on the tomb was reportedly written by Jonathan Swift. The number of anchors on tombstones and the carved ships on the side of the tower point to the strong nautical tradition of Berkeley.

Walking around the church, notice the beautiful West End with its five towering arched windows, which give it an almost Mediterranean appearance. Also look at the big oak west door, pockmarked by musket balls: in the English Civil War the church was used as outer defences for the Royalist-held castle. Once the church was captured, the Parliamentary forces were able to move a cannon onto the church roof: under this threat the castle capitulated quickly. The small South Door is the best example of what remains of the old Norman church.