Church of St Mary, Oare


The Anglican Church of St Mary in Oare, Somerset, England was built in the 15th century. It is a Grade II* listed building.

History

The nave and inner chancel survive from a 15th century building, but the outer chancel and tower were rebuilt in the 19th century.
The parish and benefice of Oare with Culbone is part of the Diocese of Bath and Wells.
The church was used as the location of a marriage in the novel Lorna Doone by R. D. Blackmore whose grandfather had been the rector of the church, between 1809 and 1842.

Architecture

The stone building has slate roofs. It consists of a three-bay nave, with an inner and outer chancel, each of one bay. The three-stage is unbuttressed.
Inside the church are 18th century box pews and a Norman font on an 18th century base. There is also a 15th century piscina with a "grotesque head", It is believed to represent St Decuman.