The Church of St Thomas à Becket

The following notes on South Cadbury Church and Village are taken from A Guide to the Camelot Parishes. 

The Dedication is to St Thomas à Becket, who was martyred in Canterbury Cathedral in 1170.  The first recorded Rector - Peter de Brug in 1265 - would have been instituted when the cult of St Thomas was at its height, and it is therefore quite likely that the early Wall Painting (restored in 1984), of a Bishop in cope and mitre, seen on a splay of a window in the south aisle, may represent St Thomas himself.  The Church Registers date from 1559.

The Tower is an impressive sight, whether seen against the skyline from the south or against Cadbury Hill from the north.  It was built in the 14th century and has corner buttresses and gargoyles.  There were originally four Bells, but they were recast into five in 1769 and the sixth bell was added as a War Memorial in 1946.

The Porch has been much restored, but the inner and outer doorways belong to the late perpendicular style.

The Chancel Arch, decorated on its inner face with double panelling, is also perpendicular; for the church, like many Somerset churches, was largely rebuilt, probably in the 15th century, in that style.  The Chancel itself was entirely rebuilt in 1874 with the exception of the two windows to the north, which were preserved.  The east window (glass by Clayton & Bell) depicts the ascension; the finely carved crucifixion scene that forms a reredos is by Earp of Lambeth and was erected in 1780. 

The Pulpit stands on the old entrance to the rood loft.  It is made of Bath stone and was carved and fixed (for £8) in 1874.  The niche behind is in its original position, and so is the squint in the south chancel arch. 

The South Aisle was rebuilt in 1853, but portions of the original church are the window with the piscina, and the wall painting.

The Nave Roof is 15th century, and has been repainted so that the carved bosses and 'angel' brackets stand out.

The Font was put in the church in 1871.

The old pipe organ installed in 1929 was replaced by a two manual computing system organ, which was beautifully installed by Mr Colin Miles and Mr Ken Laver of this village.  The old organ hid the Annunciation window in memory of Grace Bartlett, the Rectory governess, which is now revealed in all it’s glory.  This window is believed to be an example of the well known Victorian stained glass window maker, Bell of Silton.

The Churchyard is worthy of inspection as it has several very lovely trees - a tulip, a yew and a ginkgo.  Pause and reflect that this site marks the transition from the heathen past of Camelot fortress, inhabited over more than 5,000 years, to the Christian standards of the early British Church.

Cadbury Castle and South Cadbury Village

Cadbury Castle is a tremendous iron age camp covering some 18 acres, one of the most impressive sites in Britain.  It is the focal point of many ancient trackways and is guarded by four huge banks with a height in places of over forty feet from the bottom of the ditch.  Glastonbury, the cradle of Christianity in Britain, can be clearly seen to the north-west.

Three ancient entrances cut through the fortifications.  In Roman times the hill was a fortified station from which to subjugate any hostile groups of Britons in the neighbourhood.  Excavations in 1967 revealed defences built about 500AD, and the possible foundations of a cruciform church, suggesting the fortress of a great Christian military leader such as King Arthur.  The material found in these excavations can be seen in the museum in Taunton.  A most interesting book that gives details of the findings and shows the claim of Cadbury to be regarded as the Arthurian Camelot is By South Cadbury is that Camelot by Leslie Alcock, published by Thames and Hudson in 1972.  It starts from John Leland, who was antiquary to Henry VIII and wrote in 1542: "At the very south ende of the chirch of South-Cadhyri standith Camallate, sumtyme a famose toun or castelle, apon a very torre or hille, wunderfully enstrengthenid of nature" - and you could hardly have a better description.

For more details about Cadbury Castle try the South Cadbury Environ Project website:
www.southcadbury.org.uk

The Manor was free from early times in the same ownership as North Cadbury.

The Old Rectory is now called South Cadbury House and dates from the 18th century - it stands almost opposite the church.

Castle Farm House opposite the lane that leads to Cadbury Castle, was built in 1687 and has four mullioned windows.

The village custom of Playing Fives against the church wall was stopped in 1771.

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