Church of St Peter, Staple Fitzpaine

St Peter’s Church in Staple Fitzpaine stands in the rolling countryside of Somerset. The building began as a Norman church and now holds Grade I listed status. Its south aisle still shows the original Norman doorway. The chancel was rebuilt in the 14th century. A north aisle and new windows were added in the 15th century. The tower, finished around 1500, rises in three stages with pierced parapets. Recent additions include the south porch and vestry, built in 1841. The church is known for its six bells, the oldest cast in 1480. Four more original bells remain from the same period. In 1803 Thomas Castleman Bilbie of Cullompton made one of the bells. The Bilbie family were well-known bell founders and clock makers. The tower also carries carved hunky punks with heraldic details. Local history records a long tradition of bell ringing here. Inside, visitors find a quiet space shaped by centuries of change. The Norman doorway leads into the south aisle. The 14th-century chancel arches frame the altar area. The 15th-century windows cast coloured light on the stone. The tower’s three stages rise above the nave. Outside, the crenellated parapet and pierced merlons give the church a distinctive silhouette. The surrounding village adds to the peaceful rural setting.