Church of St Peter and St Paul, Muchelney

Church of St Peter and St Paul
Location:	Muchelney, Somerset, England
Coordinates:	51°01′14″N 2°48′54″W / 51.02056°N 2.815°W / 51.02056; -2.815Coordinates: 51°01′14″N 2°48′54″W / 51.02056°N 2.815°W / 51.02056; -2.815
Built:	15th century
Listed Building – Grade I
Official name: Church of SS Peter and Paul
Designated:	17 April 1959[1]
Reference #:	263267
Location of Church of St Peter and St Paul in Somerset

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.^[1]

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.^[1] They were painted in the early 17th century.^[2]

There is a three-bay aisled nave and a chancel with a short chapel on either side.^[3]

It has a three-stage Somerset tower, dating from around 1468,^[4] supported by pairs of full-height corner buttresses. The south-east octagonal stair turret leads to an outer door.^[1]

The parish is part of the Langport Area Team Ministry benefice within the Ivelchester deanery.^[5]

See also

• List of Grade I listed buildings in South Somerset
• List of towers in Somerset

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d} "Church of SS Peter and Paul". Images of England. English Heritage. http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/Details/Default.aspx?id=263267. Retrieved 15 June 2009. 
2. ^ Warren, Derrick (2005). Curious Somerset. Stroud: Sutton Publishing. p. 93. ISBN 978-0-7509-4057-3. 
3. ^ "MUCHELNEY, St. Peter & St. Paul". English Church Architecture. http://english-church-architecture.net/somerset/muchelney/muchelney.htm. Retrieved 30 October 2011. 
4. ^ Poyntz Wright, Peter (1981). The Parish Church Towers of Somerset, Their construction, craftsmanship and chronology 1350 - 1550. Avebury Publishing Company. ISBN 0861275020. 
5. ^ "St Peter & St Paul, Muchelney". Church of England. http://www.achurchnearyou.com/muchelney/. Retrieved 30 October 2011.