Our Church Warden at St Michael the Archangel, North Cadbury
Caroline Joneleit Hope
Telephone: 01963 440683
e-mail: northcadburychurchwardens@gmail.com
Church services have resumed with Communion at 11.00am on the First and Fourth Sundays of the month and Sunday Worship at 11.00am on the Third Sunday.
North Cadbury and Galhampton are holding joint services for the time being and services at Galhampton are currently Communion at 9.30am on the Second Sunday of the month, an Evening Service at 6.30pm on the Fourth Sunday, and Evensong at 6.30pm on the Fifth Sunday.
Amenities and Activities
St Michael’s is the largest church within the Camelot Group of Churches. Refreshments are offered in church after services as an opportunity for fellowship. As well as our normal pattern of weekly services, there are special seasonal services for Christmas, Easter, Harvest, Remembrance etc.
North Cadbury Church of England Primary School also use the church for special occasions and seasonal services.
Prayer and bible study meetings are organised within the Parish as part of the Small Groups initiative. Monthly Coffee Mornings and Lent Luncheons are held in the Church, and Harvest Luncheons are held in North Cadbury Village Hall.
‘mainly music’, a weekly Group for parents/grandparents to enjoy with their pre-school children takes place in the Church each Monday during term time from 9:30-11:30am, offering learning, fun, friendship and refreshments in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. During the school holidays we also host special activities for families, such as Legofest!
St. Michael’s has a friendly team of bell ringers, who practice regularly and enjoy teaching and sharing their craft with others. All of which adds to the quintessential charm of North Cadbury.
We look forward to welcoming you at St Michael’s.
Giving thanks at St. Michael’s, North Cadbury
There is much to give thanks for at St. Michael’s. For centuries, our church has been a spiritual home to generations of villagers and the building itself has not only helped shape the character of our village but is a reminder of the presence of God in our daily lives, supporting people at times of joy and of sorrow. We are grateful to all who support our work – generously giving their time, their talents and their money. St. Michael’s is very much at the heart of our community life, offering a haven of peace and reflection. The church stands as a reminder of the presence of God in our daily lives.
Your support will help us to…
- Continue to offer regular worship, in addition to Baptisms, Weddings and Funerals, and those services which bring the community together at Christmas, Easter, Harvest, and Remembrance.
- Visit the sick, bereaved and others in pastoral need.
- Care for our church building, so that this focus for community and spiritual life can be passed on to future generations. Whilst we are greatly indebted to The Friends for their generous support, the day to day maintenance of the church and churchyard is the separate responsibility of the Parochial Church Council.
- Develop exciting new work with children and young people in collaboration with our church school and pre-school group.
Through giving his life for us, Jesus provided
the ultimate demonstration of God’s generosity.
Giving is at the centre of God’s character.
God gives us life, and his giving is renewed daily.
The form ” Donation, Regular Giving and Gift Aid form ” is available here:North Cad Form for Donations and gift aid (1)
Gift of talents
Keeping the church running and ready for worship involves many tasks from setting up for and attending services, through cleaning the church and organising repairs to completing the inevitable paperwork … and that is before considering the mission work! At St. Michael’s the Churchwardens take the vast majority of this work upon their shoulders. Not only is this unfair, it makes the job unnecessarily burdensome and unattractive to those who might otherwise offer themselves for this service to God.
Part of the diversity of God’s creation is the unique way in which we have all been created and equipped with talents, aptitudes, gifts and skills: all of which are generous gifts from a generous God. How much better it would be if the tasks could be shared more widely so that many hands could indeed make light work of the tasks we need to undertake! The gift of talents section of the Promise Form asks you to consider what tasks you might be able to help with, either on a regular basis or occasionally. Please be assured that training will be given!
The Friends of St. Michael’s
The Friends of St. Michael’s, North Cadbury was instituted in 1983, since when it has provided continuing financial support by which to finance the improvement and repair of the fabric of the Church.
The Friends are not necessarily regular attenders at the Church and many live far away but have a past connection with and affection for the Church. All share in one common objective which is to ensure that one of the finest Churches in Somerset is maintained to the highest possible standard and improved when necessarily, for the benefit of the present community and future generations.
Anyone wishing to become a Friend, either by arranging a Standing Order or by making a donation, should contact the Treasurer, Andrew Moore.
Get in Contact
History
The church of St Michael the Archangel stands in a large churchyard approached from an avenue on the southern edge of the village. It forms with the Elizabethan North Cadbury Court and the Georgian former Rectory ‘an uncommonly fine picture’ in the words of Nikolaus Pevsner. Built by Lady Elizabeth Botreaux in 1420, it was intended ‘to establish therin a perpetual college of seven chaplains, one to preside and to be called the Rector of the College of St Michael the Archangel’. But the priests seemed never to have arrived. This grand perpendicular church with huge chancel, nave, arcades, clerestories, ailes and uniquely matching north and south porches was added to an existing tower. Some tasteful restoration dates from the 19th century.
Significant features in the church and churchyard
View from the west end noting timber ‘Somerset’ roof with tie-beams and king posts, more elaborate by former Rood suspended from the panelled chancel arch on which can be seen staples for fixing it and the shroud for covering it in Lent
Bench ends dating from the 1530’s the chief glory of this glorius church – which is your favourite – Virgin and Child, medieval portraits, church, heads nose to nose, cat and mousetrap, crane, man and donkey, another?
Stained glass – east window of Our Lord in Majesty by Clayton and Bell; west window by Dennis King, Norwich incorporating eight 15th century saints
Two-storey porches with stone lierne vaults – north, a priest’s room with spy holes without and within the church; south, a strong room
Furnishings – perpendicular font; attractive painted organ case; peal of six bells dating from the 18th century in the tower
Magnificent 19th century reredos with four 20th century statues of the evangelists by Lyn Constable-Maxwell
Three chest tombs under the tower, one with effigies presumed of William and Elizabeth Botreaux c.1400. two c.1600
On north wall pre-Reformation mensa (stone altar) with five crosses representing the Wounds of Christ
Sedilia (seats for clergy); piscina
Vestry with letters of the alphabet indicating use as a schoolroom
Chancel with high windows to allow for stalls
20th century lavatory – for your convenience
On northwest aisle window a pintel for fixing a shutter to protect the glass from damage by fives players
On south chancel wall a buttress a mass or scratch dial (type of sundial)
Ornate porches with statues in niches and sundial on south porch
Fine view of remarkable perpendicular 15th century church
On stable wall, Redemption Sculpture by John Robinson
Extensive view from tower, especially towards Cadbury Castle
Windows with solid ferramenta (ironwork)
Contact Us
