Church of St Peter and St Paul, Muchelney
Encyclopedia
The Church of St Peter and St Paul in Muchelney
, Somerset
, England has Saxon origins, however the current building largely dates from the 15th century. It has been designated as a Grade I listed building.
The church, which is adjacent to the site of Muchelney Abbey
and close to the River Parrett
, has a ceiling enlivened with Jacobean
paintings of bare-breasted angels, their nudity thought to symbolize innocent purity. They were painted in the early 17th century.
There is a three-bay aisled nave
and a chancel
with a short chapel on either side.
It has a three-stage Somerset tower
, dating from around 1468, supported by pairs of full-height corner buttress
es. The south-east octagonal stair turret
leads to an outer door.
The parish is part of the Langport
Area Team Ministry benefice
within the Ivelchester deanery.
Muchelney
Muchelney is a village and civil parish in Somerset, England, on the River Parrett, south of Huish Episcopi and miles south west of Somerton in the South Somerset district...
, Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
, England has Saxon origins, however the current building largely dates from the 15th century. It has been designated as a Grade I listed building.
The church, which is adjacent to the site of Muchelney Abbey
Muchelney Abbey
Muchelney Abbey is an English Heritage property in the village of Muchelney in the Somerset Levels, England.It comprises the remains and foundations of a medieval Benedictine abbey, the site of an earlier Anglo-Saxon abbey, and an early Tudor house dating from the 16th century, formerly the...
and close to the River Parrett
River Parrett
The River Parrett flows through the counties of Dorset and Somerset in South West England, from its source in the Thorney Mills springs in the hills around Chedington in Dorset...
, has a ceiling enlivened with Jacobean
Jacobean era
The Jacobean era refers to the period in English and Scottish history that coincides with the reign of King James VI of Scotland, who also inherited the crown of England in 1603 as James I...
paintings of bare-breasted angels, their nudity thought to symbolize innocent purity. They were painted in the early 17th century.
There is a three-bay aisled nave
Nave
In Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar, the main body of the church. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...
and a chancel
Chancel
In church architecture, the chancel is the space around the altar in the sanctuary at the liturgical east end of a traditional Christian church building...
with a short chapel on either side.
It has a three-stage Somerset tower
Somerset towers
The Somerset towers are a collection of distinctive, mostly spireless Gothic church towers in the county of Somerset in south west England.Where beautiful castles and church spires rise above other parts of England, the crowning glory of many Somerset towns and villages is these medieval church...
, dating from around 1468, supported by pairs of full-height corner buttress
Buttress
A buttress is an architectural structure built against or projecting from a wall which serves to support or reinforce the wall...
es. The south-east octagonal stair turret
Turret
In architecture, a turret is a small tower that projects vertically from the wall of a building such as a medieval castle. Turrets were used to provide a projecting defensive position allowing covering fire to the adjacent wall in the days of military fortification...
leads to an outer door.
The parish is part of the Langport
Langport
Langport is a small town and civil parish in Somerset, England, situated west of Somerton in the South Somerset district. The town has a population of 1,067. The parish includes the hamlets of Bowdens and Combe...
Area Team Ministry benefice
Benefice
A benefice is a reward received in exchange for services rendered and as a retainer for future services. The term is now almost obsolete.-Church of England:...
within the Ivelchester deanery.