Buckland St Mary, Somerset

Description
Buckland-St-Mary, a village and a parish in Somersetshire. The village stands 1 1/2 mile from the verge of the county, 4 1/2 miles NW of Chard station on the G.W.R. and L. & S.W.R., and 6 W by S of Ilminster, and it has a post office under Chard; money order and telegraph office, Yarcombe. The parish comprises 3654 acres; population, 586. Traces of a Roman fort bear the name of Neroche Castle, and relics of conflicts between the Saxons and the Danes have been found. The living is a rectory in the diocese of Bath and Wells; net value, £300. The church was rebuilt in the nine years prior to 1864 at a cost of about £20,000, chiefly defrayed by the rector, the Rev J. E. Lance; is in the Decorated English style; consists of nave with aisles, chancel with side chapels, a south porch, and a massive western tower; and has ornature of coloured marbles, polychromy, statuary, and painted windows. Remains of an ancient stone cross are in the churchyard. There is a Baptist chapel.