Wiveliscombe and the Hills Anglican parishes

St. Michael's, Raddington

"Balanced on the top of a small round hill looking like a picture in a fairy tale"

Such a situation is significant as is the dedication itself to the saint, Michael. It can be assumed that this ancient sacred site was formerly a pagan one as all St. Michael's sites are likely to have been. It is believed that St. Michael was the angel who threw the Devil out of Heaven; Anglo-Saxons called to him when consecrating pagan sites for Christianity.

In addition, many if not all of the St. Michael's Churches lie directly on a ‘Ley’ line - one of those mysterious lines of energy that are believed to radiate outwards from that most hallowed of English sites: Glastonbury.  All such churches are on Tor [hill] sites overlooking farmlands.

The origins of this Church could go back as far as King Alfred's time, or beyond. Its style is certainly early English with just a West tower, a nave with South porch and a chancel.

There is one feature remaining that could lend authenticity to such an early dating - the stoup for Holy Water inside the porch. Such stoups were common in very early churches, went out of fashion in medieval times and returned only in the 16th century.

Some items of note are:-

The 13^th century Tower was restored in 1695 and was roughcast rendered in 20th century.

The windows are 14th/15th century.

The Main Door is 14th century and is well preserved with beautiful iron hinges and back-plates.

The bells are 14th/ early 15th century and were renovated and re-hung in 1986.

There is evidence of medieval wall painting beneath the plaster in the nave.

The Rood Screen is very old and a gem. It bears on it some of the very finest naturalistic foliage carving and was almost certainly done by the same carver as that at Uffcombe.

For more details of this Church see the WATERROW web-site