Church of St Michael and All Angels, Somerton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St Michael and All Angels |
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| Location | Somerton, Somerset, England |
| Built | 13th century |
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Listed Building – Grade I
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| Designated | 17 April 1959 |
| Reference no. | 262971 |
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The Church of St Michael and All Angels in Somerton, Somerset, England, is a very old and special building. It was built way back in the 13th century, which means it's over 700 years old! This church is so important that it has been named a Grade I listed building, which is the highest level of protection for historic places in England.
Contents
History of the Church
This church started as a smaller chapel connected to a bigger church in Queen Camel. Most churches in this area belonged to the Crown (the king or queen) a long time ago. But as Somerton grew in the 1100s, people wanted their church to be more important.
Around 1140, a powerful queen named Empress Maud gave the church special permission. This allowed the church to have its own burial ground. This change made it a "mother church," meaning it became the main church for other smaller chapels nearby. The person in charge of the church, called a vicar, was chosen by the monks from Muchelney Abbey.
Building Materials and Changes Over Time
The church you see today was mostly reshaped in the mid-1400s. It also had more work done in 1889 to fix and improve parts of it. The church is built from local stone called lias stone, which is cut into neat blocks. It also uses Hamstone for special decorative parts.
Amazing Carved Roof
The Church of St Michael and All Angels is famous for its incredible carved wooden roof. From the outside, the church looks quite simple. But inside, it has one of the most beautiful wooden roofs in all of Somerset!
The roof is not very steep and has huge, richly decorated wooden beams. These beams are covered in carvings of dragons, angels, and even two small cider barrels. People say the monks from Muchelney Abbey carved these barrels. The dragons, called Wyverns, are a symbol for the county of Somerset.
The entire roof is divided into 640 square panels. Each panel has the same detailed quatrefoil design, which is a shape with four leaves. In the triangular spaces above each beam, there are twenty-two dragons facing each other in pairs.
Historical Marks and Furniture
You can even see some history on the roof itself! It's said that there are bullet holes in the wooden beams. These might have been made by soldiers who stayed in the church in 1646, just before a battle called the Battle of Langport.
The church also has a pulpit (where the priest gives sermons) and an altar table (where services are held) that were made in the 1600s. These pieces are examples of Jacobean woodwork, which was popular during the time of King James I.
See also
- List of Grade I listed buildings in South Somerset
- List of towers in Somerset
- List of ecclesiastical parishes in the Diocese of Bath and Wells
Images for kids
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A list of vicars who served at St Michael and All Angels' Church from 1212 to 1985.
