St Mary's Church Compton Pauncefoot Yeovil
01963 440432
http://camelotparishes.co.uk/compton-pauncefoot

ST MARY THE VIRGIN, COMPTON PAUNCEFOOT

The church of St Mary's acts as a centre for the small village of Compton Pauncefoot and its seventy inhabitants.  Two services are held each month, one as a joint service with the nearby village of Blackford.  Special services attract good congregations and refreshments are always served after those services with the new elegant benches in the nave being cleared to produce appropriate space - for Easter Day, a Patronal Service in early June with a visiting preacher, Harvest Festival with a light lunch, Remembrance Sunday, the Carol Service.  Events are also held in the church.  

The church, sitting between the Manor House and the Old Rectory, is a lovely place to visit and has special features.  The chancel, nave and south aisle were originally 15th century, but the church was expanded in the 1850s with a new north aisle, a new floor and barrel-vaulted roofs. The spire, put on in 1804 (the date is on the weather vane), is one of the few in Somerset.  The stained glass is exceptional, featuring work by Charles Kempe, Jean Baptiste Capronnier and Hugh Easton.  The barrel-vaulted roof in the chancel depicts sixteen angels holding symbols of the Passion Cycle, and is a rare example of such work.  The three medieval bells were restored and re-hung in 2004.  The walled churchyard with ancient yews provides an attractive setting for this lovely church.

(Compton Pauncefoot is one of the nine parishes that make up the Camelot Parishes - more information can be found on the Compton Pauncefoot page of the Camelot Parishes website.)

St Michael's Church Blackford Yeovil
01963 440432
http://camelotparishes.co.uk/blackford

St Michael's, a member of the Camelot group of churches, has been serving the village of Blackford since the twelfth century. The building, of Norman origins, is a simple two-cell structure of chancel and nave with porch added later. It has some interesting features, including a beautiful east window, 'The Good Shepherd' by John Hayward.

Our Rector is the Reverend Tristram Rae Smith and services are held here on the second and fourth Sundays of every month, with Morning Prayer at 9.30am on the second Sunday and Holy Communion at 8.00am on the fourth. There are also celebrations at Christmas, Easter and Harvest.  We would be very pleased for you to join us here in worship.

In the church you will find further information, including copies of 'Excalibur' the parish magazine and the booklet 'A Guide to the Churches of Camelot' with historical notes on all ten churches of the group.  The porch noticeboard carries details of clergy, lay personnel and contact details.

If you are in the vicinity having recently moved here, or just simply passing through - call in and enjoy the calm!

[More information can be found on the Blackford page of the Camelot Parishes website.]