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Churchstanton
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This parish is situated 850 feet above sea level on the Blackdown Hills - formerly in the Diocese of Exeter, it was transferred to Bath and Wells in 1970.
Although the church is roughly in the centre of the parish, it is two miles from each of its two nearest villages, Churchinford and Stapley, although there is a legend of a town here "before King Arthur", and the name Stanton is Saxon for "stony town", which suggests there might have been a settlement here. An early trackway from Honiton to Taunton passes nearby.
As declared by a plaque by the gate, a church here was mentioned in the Domesday Book, probably a small Norman church on the site of the 13th century chancel. The priest's door may have been the original church door.
The tower gives the church, dedicated to Sts. Peter and Paul, an impression of solidity, and has four fine gargoyles. There are 26 carved medieval pew ends forming the front of the nineteenth century gallery; the oldest known artefact in the building is the Norman font standing on marble pillars.
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