Photograph by Carol Moule
There has been a church
on the present site since 1062 and the present building was built between
1190 and 1500. The first Vicar was appointed in 1191, a document of the
next year makes a reference to a church at Chew. The name has been Chew
Magna since about 1600 because this has been the most important of the
several villages along the banks of the river Chew. A detailed account
of the church compiled by Ian L Durham M.B.E is available on the History
pages.
Today, St Andrew's serves the community as a part of the Lakeside Group
of Anglican Churches including Dundry, Norton Malreward, Chew Stoke,Stanton Drew and
Nempnett Thrubwell and in partnership with the Baptist Church, whose chapel
is in close proximity, and the Sacred Heart Roman Catholic church sited
at the west end of the village.