Church history

According to the Domesday Book, Wincanton, together with Staverdale and Stourton formed part of the Baronry of Castle Carey. The Lords of Castle Carey founded an Augustinian Priory at Staverdale early in the twelfth century. In 1291 the Rectory of Wincanton became the property of the Priory. Bishop Harewell in 1374 relieved the Prior of the duty of supporting the vicar of Wincanton. The town was served therefater by a rota of eight canons who conducted the services (and for their discomfort received an extra 6/8d and an allowance for leather!!) The spiritual car

e of the town transferred to Taunton

priory in 1532. After the passing of all church lands to the crown in 1544 the
tithes were granted to William, Lord Stourton. The patronage remained in private
hands till 1885 when Miss Chafyn-Grove of Zeals House gave the tithes back to
the parish and in 1918 the patronage passed to the Dean and Chapter of Wells
Cathedral with whom it resides today.

The dedication of the church to St Peter and St Paul - a favourite of Ina, King of
Wessex - suggests a Saxon church in origin although no traces remain today.
There is evidence that the first stone church was built in 1313 with a tower,
nave of 4 bays, 3 narrow side aisles and a small chancel.
Under the guiding hand of Nathaniel Ireson (whose monument to himself can
be seen in the churchyard) from 1748 the church was modified in accordance
with the taste of the times: the south aisle was widened, the nave heightened
and clerestory windows added. The old high pitched roof was replaced by a
flat plaster ceiling from which a winged angel was suspended to support the
brass candelabra. The chancel was described as 'plain but very handsome
within'.
However, tastes changed, and in 1887 it was described by the Diocesan
architect as 'one of the ugliest in the county' with all traces of window tracery
and all medieval architecture having been destroyed.

In the meantime a new organ had been installed in 1825; in 1828 the south gallery was enlarged, the pulpit removed and a north gallery constructed. These efforts were to little avail and the attempts to increase the rates to pay for the necessary repairs and modifications caused a great stir among the parishioners and churchwardens alike.

Font

In 1887, with the enthusiastic support of Rev Colin Grant Dalton, the church was rebuilt in the latest 'Gothic' style to the design of the Diocesan Architect, J D Seddon. The rebuilding retained the tower, 4 piers on the south side, and the south porch, which was taken down and rebuilt; it also made Wincanton's church the largest built in Somerset since the Reformation.'

The carving shows the saint standing by the forge fire with
the detached leg in his hand.

Among older work still surviving, note should be taken of the
carved stone now built into the north porch, which shows
St Eligius or Loy, patron saint of the blacksworkers and
farriers. According to legend, a badly-behaved horse was
proving so difficult to shoe that the saint took over the job,
removing the horse's leg and re-shoeing it in peace before
returning the leg to its place!