Church of St Mary, Bruton [Map]

Church of St Mary, Bruton is in Bruton, Somerset.

On 12 Mar 1560. [Some sources say 25 Feb 1560] Catherine Blount (deceased) died. On 11 Aug 1580 Maurice Berkeley (age 74) died. Church of St Mary, Bruton [Map]. Elizabethan Period recumbent effigies of himself and his two wives Catherine Blount (deceased) and Elizabeth Sands (age 27) in an Easter sepulchre-type recess with double round arched front, Corinthian pilasters and strapwork panels. Ruff. Panel with quartered arms 1 Berkeley Arms 2 probably Tiptoft Arms, possibly Wotton Arms 3 Unknown Arms 4 probably Babington Arms, possibly Zouche Arms differenced with a label three points, overall a Crescent.

Catherine Blount: John Champernowne and she were married. Around 1518 she was born to William Blount 4th Baron Mountjoy and Alice Keble Baroness Mountjoy. After 1541 Maurice Berkeley and she were married. Henry Machyn's Diary. 12 Mar 1560. The xij day of Marche was bered at Dyttun my lade Barkeley, the wyff of ser Mores Barthelay knyght, with a penon of armes and a iiij dosen of skochyons, and a harold of armes, master Rychemond.

Elizabeth Sands: In 1533 she was born to Anthony Sands of Throwley in Kent. In 1562 Maurice Berkeley and she were married. The difference in their ages was 27 years. On 16 Jun 1585 she died at Berkeley House. She was buried at the St James' Church, Clerkenwell where a monument was constructed. Before 16 Jun 1685 she was appointed Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Elizabeth I of England and Ireland.

Henry Machyn's Diary. 12 Mar 1560. The xij day of Marche was bered at Dyttun [Map] my lade Barkeley (deceased), the wyff of ser Mores Barthelay (age 54) knyght, with a penon of armes and a iiij dosen of skochyons, and a harold of armes, master Rychemond.

In 1636 William Godolphin died. Memorial in Church of St Mary, Bruton [Map].

William Godolphin: he was born to William Godolphin. Before 1636 he was appointed Governor of the Scilly Isles.

On 23 Nov 1704 Anne Lee Viscountess Fitzhardinge (age 81) was buried in Church of St Mary, Bruton [Map].

On 25 Mar 1733 Captain William Berkeley (age 34) died at sea whilst Commander of Tyger on its journey from Guinea to the West Indies. He was buried at sea. Memorial in the Church of St Mary, Bruton [Map] sculpted by Peter Scheemakers (age 58) in 1749. Berkeley Arms Berkeley Arms beneath.

Captain William Berkeley: Pepy's Diary. 09 Nov 1663. So to our discourse, and among and above other things we were taken up in talking upon Sir J. Lawson's coming home, he being come to Portsmouth, Hampshire; and Captain Berkely is come to towne with a letter from the Duana of Algier to the King, wherein they do demand again the searching of our ships and taking out of strangers, and their goods; and that what English ships are taken without the Duke's pass they will detain (though it be flat contrary to the words of the peace) as prizes, till they do hear from our King, which they advise him may be speedy. And this they did the very next day after they had received with great joy the Grand Seignor's confirmation of the Peace from Constantinople by Captain Berkely; so that there is no command nor certainty to be had of these people. The King is resolved to send his will by a fleete of ships; and it is thought best and speediest to send these very ships that are now come home, five sail of good ships, back again after cleaning, victualling, and paying them. But it is a pleasant thing to think how their Basha, Shavan Aga, did tear his hair to see the soldiers order things thus; for (just like his late predecessor) when they see the evil of war with England, then for certain they complain to the Grand Seignor of him, and cut his head off: this he is sure of, and knows as certain. Pepy's Diary. 18 Nov 1663. Up, and after being ready, and done a little business at the office, I and Mr. Hater by water to Redriffe, and so walked to Deptford, where I have not been a very great, while, and there paid off the Milford in very good order, and all respect showed me in the office as much as there used to be to any of the rest or the whole board. That done at noon I took Captain Terne, and there coming in by chance Captain Berkeley, him also to dinner with me to the Globe. Captain Berkeley, who was lately come from Algier, did give us a good account of the place, and how the Basha there do live like a prisoner, being at the mercy of the soldiers and officers, so that there is nothing but a great confusion there. Around 1699 he was born to William Berkeley 4th Baron Berkeley and Frances Temple Baroness Berkeley.

On 19 May 1782 John Donne died. Memorial in Church of St Mary, Bruton [Map].

On 08 Jul 2023 George Osborne and Thea Rogers, who became engaged in 2021, were married at Church of St Mary, Bruton [Map].

The bride was given away by her father Paul Rogers.

Around two hundred guests attended, including:

David and Samantha Cameron, Savid Javid, Michael Gove, Michael and Ffion Hague, Matt Hancock, Mark Carney, and Ed Balls with his wife Yvette Cooper.

Nick Robinson, Emily Maitlis, Jon Sopel, Adam Boulton and Anji Hunter, and Mariella Frostrup.