Church of St Michael, North Cadbury facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St Michael |
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| Location | North Cadbury, Somerset, England |
| Built | 1417 |
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Listed Building – Grade I
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| Designated | 24 March 1961 |
| Reference no. | 262104 |
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The Church of St Michael is a historic church located in North Cadbury, a village in Somerset, England. This beautiful building was mostly built in 1417. However, its tall tower is even older, built a few years before the main church. The Church of St Michael is very special. It has been officially recognized as a Grade I listed building. This means it is a building of exceptional historical and architectural importance.
Contents
History of St Michael's Church
Early Beginnings and Royal Approval
The Church of St Michael has a long and interesting past. In 1423, a powerful couple, Lord and Lady de Botreaux, received special permission from the King. This permission allowed them to create a "college" of seven chaplains. Chaplains are like priests who serve a specific institution. Because of this, the main parts of the church, called the nave (where people sit) and the chancel (near the altar), were rebuilt. The older, three-stage tower was kept just as it was.
A Famous Legal Dispute
Later, Henry Hastings, 3rd Earl of Huntingdon, gave the right to choose the church's priest to Emmanuel College, Cambridge. This led to a big disagreement between the college and the owner of the North Cadbury manor. This argument became quite famous in the history of mortgage law. A mortgage is a loan used to buy property. From the 1600s until 1979, Emmanuel College, Cambridge, continued to choose the church's priests. In fact, almost every priest from the mid-1600s to the mid-1900s had been a student or teacher at that college.
Unique Features of the Church
Carved Bench Ends
The Church of St Michael is known for its amazing bench ends. These are the decorated ends of the wooden pews, or benches, where people sit. They were carved around the 1530s. The carvings are very detailed and show many different things. You can see religious pictures, but also birds and animals. There are even carvings of local people doing their everyday jobs. It's like a snapshot of life from long ago!
Modern Art and Controversy
In the 1980s, some of the church's inside decorations and fittings were badly damaged. They could not be fixed. So, a local artist named John Robinson was asked to create new, modern figures to replace them. However, these new figures caused some debate. Not everyone agreed with the modern style. Because of this, the figures were eventually moved. They are now placed on the wall of the nearby North Cadbury Court. This building overlooks the churchyard, so the figures are still close to the church.
Church Community
The Church of St Michael is part of a group of churches called the Camelot Parishes. This group is part of a larger church area known as the Bruton and Cary deanery.
Burials
- William de Botreaux, 3rd Baron Botreaux
See also
- Grade I listed buildings in South Somerset
- List of Somerset towers
- List of ecclesiastical parishes in the Diocese of Bath and Wells
