Bishop Ruth was among those who attended a special Anniversary Service at St Julian’s Church in Wellow to mark 650 years since the church was first opened. The church first opened its doors in 1372 and has been serving parishoners ever since.
Revd Matthew Street, said: "St Julian's Church has so much to celebrate! For almost three quarters of a millennium, it has ‘stood the test of time’ and been part of the fabric of the community of Wellow. The church has always had a central role in the life of the village. So many families have been a part of our story here at St Julian’s. If only these walls could talk, so to speak"
To understand the historical context of just how old the church is, in 1372: Edward III was on the throne of England, one of the last Plantagenet Kings, England was at war with France as part of the ‘Hundred Years War’, Europe was recovering from the black death or ‘The Plaque’ and The Church of England hadn't been created yet. 1372 was 162 years before the English Reformation.
The opening of St Julian’s Church in 1372 also has its place in our country’s national narrative due to the fact that it was founded by the first ever Speaker of the House of Commons, Sir Thomas Hungerford. In 1369, Sir Thomas Hungerford bought the villages of Farleigh and Wellow for 1100 marks. A follower of John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, Hungerford was the first leader of the House of Commons to be called ‘The Speaker’.
The new church was then consecrated on the feast of St. Philip and St. James in 1372 by John Harewell, the Bishop of Bath and Wells.
The 650th Aniversary Service was followed by a buffet lunch, activities for children, plus an opportunity to see the bells and the ringing chamber.