Church of St Aldhelm, Doulting

The Church of St Aldhelm stands in the village of Doulting, Somerset. Built in the 12th century, it is a Grade I listed building. The church’s dedication recalls Saint Aldhelm, who died in the village in 709. King Ine of Wessex gave the local estate to Glastonbury Abbey after his nephew’s death. The River Sheppey begins at St Aldhelm’s Well, named in his honour. The village’s primary school also bears the saint’s name. The church is unusual for Somerset because it has a tall spire rather than a tower. Its two-storey porch includes a carving of the Green Man in the vaulting above. In the churchyard stands a 15th-century stone cross, Grade II* listed, with an octagonal base and square socket stone. A war grave for a Somerset Light Infantry soldier from the First World War lies within the same grounds. Visitors find a quiet churchyard with the ancient cross and war grave. The Green Man carving can be seen inside the porch. The spire rises above the village, marking the church’s place in the landscape. The River Sheppey’s source is nearby, linked to the saint’s story. The church remains a focus for local memory and history.