Church of St Michael, Brent Knoll

The Church of St Michael stands on the gentle slope of Brent Knoll in Somerset, its stone walls rising above the surrounding fields. Built in the 11th century, the church has grown over the centuries with additions in the 14th, 15th and 19th centuries. A Norman doorway survives from the earliest period, while most of the structure dates from around 1290. The north aisle was added late in the 15th century, and the tower, completed about 1397, has three stages with set-back buttresses and a parapet of pinnacles. Inside, the church is recognised for its fine Perpendicular architecture and notable fittings. The wagon roof of the nave, the 11th-century font, the 17th-century pulpit and the medieval parish chest all remain. The bench ends of the pews are especially famous, carved with intricate figures including a satirical scene of a fox-like abbot said to represent the avaricious Abbot of Glastonbury. The tower houses a bell cast in 1777 by William Bilbie of the Bilbie family. The churchyard and surrounding lanes offer quiet walks with views across the Somerset Levels. In summer the building becomes a venue for concerts and arts events, linking its historic fabric with contemporary culture. The grade I listed church remains an active place of worship and a landmark for visitors exploring the countryside of Brent Knoll.