Church of St Michael the Archangel, Compton Martin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St Michael the Archangel |
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| General information | |
| Architectural style | Norman |
| Town or city | Compton Martin |
| Country | England |
| Completed | 12th century |
The Church of St Michael the Archangel is a very old and important church. You can find it in the village of Compton Martin, Somerset, England. This church is a Grade I listed building. This means it's recognized as a really special historic place. Many of the old monuments in its churchyard are also listed. The church is named after St Michael the Archangel.
Contents
Discovering the Church of St Michael
This beautiful church was built a long, long time ago, in the 12th century. It was designed in the Norman style, which was popular back then. William FitzWalter helped pay for its construction.
How the Church Was Built
The church has a special design. You can see Norman arches and ceilings in the chancel, which is the area near the altar. There are also arcades (rows of arches) that form aisles on both sides of the main part of the church, called the nave. Above the aisles, there's a row of windows called a clerestory, which lets in lots of light.
Special Features Inside
Inside the church, you'll find some interesting old woodwork. The choir stalls and the screen around the organ have Jacobean designs. These were made much later. On the north wall, there's a special spot with a statue of Thomas de Moreton. This statue was found in 1858.
One of the columns in the south side of the nave is quite unique. It has a spiral, twisted pattern. People call it an "apprentices' column." This is because it looks like something an apprentice might have practiced on.
The Secret Dovecote
Above the ceiling of the Bickfield Chapel, there's a hidden space. This space is a columbarium, also known as a dovecote. In 1606, this dovecote was home to 140 pigeons! These pigeons were kept for the rector's (church leader's) dinner table.
The Church Tower
The church has a tall, four-story tower. You enter it from the nave through a grand arch. The tower was built around 1370 or 1443. It stands about 70 feet (21 meters) high. Inside, there are six bells from the 18th century. Five of these bells were made by the famous Bilbies from Chew Stoke.
What Makes This Church Remarkable
In their 1929 book about Somerset, authors Wade and Wade called the church "quite remarkable." They said it was "one of the finest bits of Norm. work in the county." They especially noted the nave and its unusual clerestory. The beautiful arcades with their round columns are also very noticeable. They also pointed out the twisted pillar on the north-east side.
The church is part of the larger group of churches in the benefice of Blagdon with Compton Martin and Ubley.
See also
- List of ecclesiastical parishes in the Diocese of Bath and Wells
