ON a clear day, you can see all the way to Glastonbury Tor from the top of the 8th Century St Mary Magdalene Church in Taunton.
Weekend visitors clambered up 163 steps to the very top of the church tower, in an open day where they got to see mile-upon-mile of Somerset landscape, and even have a go ringing the bells.
Over £660 was raised, thanks to the curiosity of church tourists. The church is currently £37,000 into the £300,000 target they need to replace the bells, and the broken Carillon, which, connected to the clock in the belfry, would once chime local ditties at regular intervals.
Margaret Laver, who works in the church’s parish office, said: “The carillon is fairly rare in this country, but it’s always been in Taunton. Before it broke, it used to play every three hours – and when the cricket was on, it would play ‘Up From Somerset’, which was always referred to in the cricket commentaries.”
The next tower open day at St Mary’s Church will be held from 10am-3pm on Saturday October 12. Entry will be £4 for adults.
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