Church of St Michael and All Angels, Somerton

The Church of St Michael and All Angels stands in the small town of Somerton in Somerset. Built in the 13th century, it is a Grade I listed building. The church began as a chapel under Queen Camel and became independent in the 12th century. Empress Maud granted it burial rights around 1140, making it a mother church. The monks of Muchelney Abbey appointed its vicar. In the mid 15th century, the church was reshaped and restored again in 1889. The church is notable for its carved wooden roof, featuring dragons, angels, and two small cider barrels said to be carved by Muchelney Abbey monks. Sir John Betjeman admired an inscription on the candelabra. The exterior is plain, but the interior has one of the finest wooden carved roofs in the county. The roof is shallow pitched with decorated tie beams and short king posts. There are 640 panels, each with a quatrefoil design, and twenty-two dragons in pairs above the beams. Inside, the church also holds a 17th century Jacobean pulpit and altar table. The timbers show bullet holes from soldiers who camped there in 1646 before the Battle of Langport. The roof’s bosses and panels create a richly decorated framework. Visitors find a quiet, reflective space with remarkable craftsmanship. The church remains a key example of medieval woodwork in Somerset.