St Martin of Tours, West Coker
There has been a Church on the site since the 11th century. Most of the building of today was erected in 1863 to 1864 when there was a general rebuilding and enlargement of the Church. The parish was at that time expanding at a rapid rate due to the production of rope and sail cloth from the hemp grown in the area but the rebuild was also needed as the chancel arch was falling down due to mistakes made during building work carried out some thrity years before.
The Lady Chapel and the turret to the tower date froma much earlier time. There are two windows made from horn in the tower turret.
The two reredos were given by the Cotter family. There were two Rev Cotters in this parish, William Laurence to whom a window was erected in memory and his son Laurence Rutledge to who the screen between the tower ringing chamber and the nave was erected in memory.
A lych gate in memory of Rev W L Cotter leads into the churchyard and a garvelled path takes you to the south porch and main entrance. The font can be found to the left of the door as you enter. There are three aisles, the main central aisle and north and south aisles. The pews in the centre aisle are of Jacobean origin and it is thought the pulpit dates from a similar time. The lectern is in the form of an eagle. A fine organ can be found in what is known as the organ vestry. The organ does however hide a memorial on the wall behind it dedicated to William Ruddock a prominent villager from the past. There are some fine stained glass windows mostly dating from the rebuild time but the tower window was installed circa 1750 and there is a new window installed in memory of Mrs Blackmore.
At the published co-ordinates, William Lawrence Cotter was born April 11th 18AB and died July 5th 18CD
Now go to N50 55.178, W02 41.377
Amelia Matilda died 21st May 19EF
The cache can be found at
N50 55.F(A+B)(D-F), W02 41.A(C-D)(D+F)
Check Sum is 51
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