The History of North Curry

History of the Churches of North Curry

The Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul is the Parish Church of North Curry. It is a handsome and substantial building for a village church and it is popularly known, and frequently referred to, as The Cathedral of the Moors. The church stands on the northern slope of a long ridge of high ground, originally a promontory between marshes on either side, which extends from West Hatch to Athelney. The original church on this site must have looked on approach quite dramatic and may have acted as a beacon over the waters of the marsh in the early days before the land was reclaimed by drainage. The view from the North side of the church looks across Taunton Deane and the southern slopes of the Quantock Hills, the Blackdowns, the Brendons, Exmoor, the Poldens and the Mendip Hills, over an expanse of flat country.

The church building as we see it today is of cruciform shape, having chancel, nave, north and south aisles and transepts. It has a bold south porch, and central octagonal tower, which has a clock and a peal of eight bells. The tower is almost entirely built of grey sandstone from quarries in the neighbourhood. The rest of the building is chiefly blue lias mixed occasionally with Ham stone and sandstone. All the windows and arches are of Ham stone.

We can be certain the church has Norman origins, however, evidence is sufficient to warrant the conclusion that a church existed on the site from as early as Saxon times in the 9^th Century, when King Alfred founded the monastic house at Athelney, which is only three miles from North Curry. The influence of this religious house would have extended into the surrounding neighbourhood when the resident clergy acted as parish priests in nearby areas and it is likely they founded a centre in North Curry and built a church. It seems probable that this early church would have been built on the edge of the marsh and have been a small, simple and primitive structure, consisting of a single aisle and constructed of wood as was typical in Saxon times.

During the Norman period between 1066 and 1145, a more substantial stone building would have replaced this Saxon building. An approach from the water's edge through a porch on the North side of the church would have been probable. The church in North Curry is one of the few churches in Somerset which show evidence of Norman architecture. The north doorway of the present church is of Norman construction, conspicuous with a segmental arch with dog-tooth ornamentation, and is all that remains of the Norman structure which was considerably smaller than the present building. There is indication of an ancient archway built into the wall of the present North aisle, which may have been part of this porch. There is also, in part of this wall, a sill and one jamb of a filled in window. This church would have been of a simple rectangular plan, with a semi circular apse at the east end where the clergy would sit. Suggestion of the chancel arch of this building is to be found at the east end of the north aisle.

By the time of the Norman Conquest most of the parishes in the county had been established, each with its own church. In 1170 and 1200 it was laid down that vicars were to be perpetual and to have a fixed and sufficient endowment. In all Somerset only eight were worth more than ten marks and some of the rectories were worth even less. North Curry, however, was one of the highest valued, and was worth £36 13s. 4d (£36.67).

The present church was originally built circa 1300 replacing the Norman church, and consisted of chancel and nave, a tower with a square base between projecting north and south transepts. The tower may have carried a spire. The building would have been in the shape of a Latin cross. It would have been covered with a high, pointed, steeply sloping roof, coming down to low walls, of the Early English Decorated style of architecture. The line of this roof is clearly visible over the decorated window in the south transept and at the east end of the chancel. There were probably no aisles at this time. This appears to be confirmed by the absence of the bottom string course, which is carried round the chancel and nave, but is not continued round the walls of the aisles. The buttresses, also, supporting the transepts, are of a different and older type than those against the aisles. Two things remain now as they were at first, the length of the Church from east to west through the chancel, tower and nave, and the two windows of the south transept. After a few years the church underwent further alterations and two aisles were added.

At about 1300 a large influx of people from another part of the diocese came to North Curry. A large new settlement and monastery was built at Witham, near Shepton Mallet, for the Carthusians. People and lands were exchanged and several hundred people were transferred or re-housed from Witham to Knapp. Soon after these events the Chapter of Bath and Wells provided the money to alter and enlarge the church. There is no evidence to suggest why so spacious a church should have been built other than a larger church was needed to cope with an enlarged population in the parish.

About 100 years later the church was re-modelled and further rebuilding took place in the Perpendicular style (1377-1507)). At this time the walls of the aisles and nave were raised and the roof was raised to it present elevation. Parapets were added around the nave, chancel and aisle roofs and at the top of the tower.  Finial crosses were placed on the parapets of transepts and chancel. There are two turrets on the outside of the church, one on the SE corner and the other in the NE corner of the tower between the transepts and chancel. Hunky Punks of pagan or superstitious origin, unique to Somerset and many grotesque gargoyles were added to the gutters and corners of the roofs. One represents the devil in chains, struggling to get away from the north west corner, he is depicted being driven out of the church, departing into the darkness of the sun-down. The section of the tower parapet which is different to the rest was replaced in 1837 when part of it fell on the roof of the church below causing considerable damage.

The church was the centre of life in the village with most people attending at least one service on Sundays. The Parish Registers list Baptisms, Marriages and Burials from as early as 1539. These registers form the only record of the growth of families until the formalising of records began in 1830. Many of the earliest families recorded, some back as far as the 12th century, are still living in North Curry today. For anyone researching their family history extracts from those Registers can be provided by Angela Dix.

In the late 1650’s non-conformists held meetings in North Curry. The Quaker teacher Jasper Batt led these. Houses for non-conformist worship in North Curry became registered with the Bishop in 1672. Baptist meetings were held, but it was not until 1825 that a Baptist Chapel was built in Windmill Hill. They started a Sunday School in 1826 and added a schoolroom.

The Methodists in North Curry after John Wesley’s visit to the area applied for houses to be registered for worship from 1791, notably three in Knapp. In 1819 the Methodists started a Sunday School. In 1833 a Methodist Chapel was built with red brick with a slate roof. A schoolroom was added and the building was extended in circa 1900. The chapel was erected in memory of Ann Mitchell Morris who died in 1900.

For more information on the history of North Curry why not buy a copy of  "North Curry - A Place in History" by Angela Dix.  For details go to http://www.dixuk.com.