This church is situated on the north side of , at the south-east corner of hill, and is so called from its dedication to the Virgin Mary, and its situation; the word Somerset being supposed to be only a corruption of Somers'-hithe, from some small port, or hithe, so called from the owner of it being of the name of Somers. It is in the gift of a lay-patron, and being united to St. Mary, Mounthaw, which is in the gift of the bishop of Hereford, they present alternately to the living. The plan is a parallelogram, with a square tower attached to the western extremity of the south side. The west front is in stories; in the lower is a segment arched entrance, and in the upper a circular between arched windows, the keystones of all being carved with cherubim. The tower is in stories, and the fronts which are clear of the church are alike; in the basement is an arched doorway surmounted by a cornice resting on consoles; the has , and the story circular windows; the , which is clear of the roof of the church, has an arched window in each face; the elevation is finished with a cornice and ballustrade, surmounted by acroteria, of which are at the angles of the design, and the others in the middle of each front; the former are surmounted by urns, and the latter by pinnacles, notched at the angles, and ending in finials resembling the pointed style of architecture, and forming an outre finish to an Italian tower; the south front of the church has arched windows, and the elevation is finished with a ballustrade; the tower, and the west and south fronts of the church are faced with stone. The east end is built with brick, and has a single window with a segmental arch in the centre. The north side is built against to the extent of the westernmost divisions; the unengaged portion has arched windows. The interior is spacious and plain, without pillars. The ceiling is horizontal, and coved at the sides; the latter portion is pierced with arches over all the windows, and ends in a cornice of the Doric order; the arches rest on impost cornices, attached to the piers between the windows, sustained by cherubs. The eastern wall is in stories, the lower occupied by the altar-screen, which is of oak, in a plain style of decoration, divided by Corinthian pilasters, and pannelled; the upper story is painted and gilt, representing Corinthian pilasters sustaining an entablature; in the centre is the eastern window, which is fronted with a painted canvas blind, intended to represent

the Ascension ;

Ex dono Johannis Toolye, hujus tribus vicarii dignissimi

1699

, necron vigilantissimi.

The pulpit and desks are grouped against the south wall; the former is hexagonal, and has a sounding board of a similar form. In the central western widow are the royal arms of William and Mary, in stained glass, in a bad state of preservation. There are but few monuments, and none of interest.

This church was rebuilt after the fire, from the designs of sir Christopher Wren, and finished in . The expense of the building was The dimensions are, length feet, breadth , height of church , and of tower and pinnacles feet.