Church of St Michael, Dinder

The Anglican Church of St Michael in Dinder, Somerset, England has Norman origins and was built in the 14th century before being rebuilt in the 15th. It is a Grade II* listed building.[1]

Church of St Michael
Location	Dinder, Somerset, England
Coordinates	51.1990°N 2.6094°W
Built	15th century
Listed Building – Grade II*
Official name	Church of St Michael
Designated	22 November 1966[1]
Reference no.	1345121
Location of Church of St Michael in Somerset

History

A church was established in Dinder after the Norman conquest, however the current building was first erected in the 14th century. Major rebuilding was undertaken in the 15th century. A Victorian restoration was carried out in 1872 when the chancel was rebuilt.[1]

The parish is within the benefice of Pilton with Croscombe, North Wootton and Dinder which is part of the Diocese of Bath and Wells.[2][3]

Architecture

The church consists of a three-bay nave, chancel, north aisle and a north organ chamber. The three-stage tower is supported by diagonal buttresses.[1]

Inside the church are a stone pulpit and perpendicular font and piscina.[1]

There is a stone carving of a two-headed dragon about the south chapel window.[4] The legend of the Dragon of Dinder goes back for centuries, and is documented on illuminated transcript which is now preserved in Eton College Library Records.[5] The legend goes that a terrible Dragon was terrorising both livestock and villagers. The then Bishop Jocelyn was called upon to save the people of Dinder. He rode out with his men at arms, but at the last furlong commanded them to remain at a distance while he rode on and single-handedly beheaded the beast.[4]

The stone cross in the churchyard dates from the 14th century.[6]

See also

• List of ecclesiastical parishes in the Diocese of Bath and Wells

References

1. "Church of St Michael". National Heritage List for England. Historic England. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
2. "Dinder: St Michael & All Angels". A Church Near You. Church of England. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
3. "St. Michael and All Angels church - Dinder". The Benefice of Pilton with Croscombe, North Wootton and Dinder. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
4. Birks, Jean. "Dinder and the legend of the dragon" (PDF). Friends of the Somerset Rural Life Museum. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 April 2012. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
5. "Villagers prepare to slay dragon". BBC. Retrieved 25 October 2011.
6. "Churchyard cross in churchyard, about 3 a south of porch, Church of St Michael". National Heritage List for England. Historic England. Retrieved 10 December 2017.