Church of St Michael, Enmore

Church of St Michael
Location	Enmore, Somerset, England
Coordinates	51°06′40″N 3°05′14″W / 51.11111°N 3.08722°WCoordinates: 51°06′40″N 3°05′14″W / 51.11111°N 3.08722°W
Built	13th and 15th centuries
Listed Building – Grade II*
Official name: Church of St Michael
Designated	29 March 1963[1]
Reference no.	1177223
Location of Church of St Michael in Somerset

The Anglican Church of St Michael in Enmore within the English county of Somerset dates mainly from the 15th century, however some of the fabric of the building from the 12th century, including an arched doorway, survives. It is a Grade II* listed building.^[1]

History

The church was restored in 1873 by Benjamin Ferrey.^[1]

The parish is part of the benefice of Aisholt, Enmore, Goathurst, Nether Stowey, Over Stowey and Spaxton with Charlynch which falls within the archdeadery of Taunton.^[2]

Architecture

The church has a three bay north aisle, two bay chancel and a two bay nave accessed via the south doorway which was built around 1185.^[1] The heavy doorway dating from around 1185 is an ornately carved archway. ^[3]

The three-stage west tower is supported by diagonal buttresses and topped with a turret above the stairs.^[1] It contains six bells the oldest of which was cast in 1647 by William Purdue.^[4]

Interior

Inside the church are a 13th-century octagonal font, and jacobean pulpit. There are also various chests ranging in date from the Middle Ages to the 19th century.^[1]

There are two helms from the family of William Malet who were the lords of the manor and Sheriffs of Somerset. These are believed to date from around 1620 so they would date from the time of John Malet.^[1] They were discovered when parts of Enmore Castle were demolished in 1833 and moved to the church.^[5]

Churchyard

In the churchyard is a 15th-century cross. The shaft is 1.5 metres (4 ft 11 in) high, however the head of the cross is missing.^[6] The wall around the churchyard which separates it from Enmore Castle was probably built in the 18th century.^[7]

The monuments include the Studdier,^[8] and Waterman family monuments.^[9] There are also some unidentified chest tombs. One dating from the early 18th century,^[10] and one from the 17th.^[11]

References

1. Historic England. "Church of St Michael (1177223)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 4 April 2015.
2. "St Michael, Enmore". A Church Near You. Church of England. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
3. "St Michael, Enmore, Somerset". The Corpus of Romaneque Sculpture in Britain and Ireland. Kings College London. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
4. Baggs, A.P.; Siraut, M.C. "Enmore Church". British History Online. Victoria County Histories. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
5. Waite, Vincent (1969). Portrait of the Quantocks (2 ed.). Robert Hale. p. 99. ISBN 978-0709111580.
6. Historic England. "Churchyard cross in St Michael's churchyard (1015457)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
7. Historic England. "Wall with gateways bounding churchyard, Church of St. Michael and attached walling with gateways to Nos 1 and 2 Enmore Castle (1058944)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 4 April 2015.
8. Historic England. "Studdier monument in churchyard, about 3 m south of nave, Church of St. Michael (1058943)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 4 April 2015.
9. Historic England. "Waterman family monument in churchyard, about 14 m south of tower, Church Church of St. Michael (1177247)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 4 April 2015.
10. Historic England. "Unidentified monument in churchyard about 9 m south of chancel, Church of St. Michael (1058942)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 4 April 2015.
11. Historic England. "Unidentified monument in churchyard about 3 m south of chancel, Church of St. Michael (1177237)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 4 April 2015.