Architectural History

There is evidence that the present church is not the first one to be erected on or near the site.

13th and 14th Centuries.  There are in the present church two styles of masonry, large stone masonry which marks the 13th century building, and small stone masonry which marks the 15th century.
At the east end is a series of 13th century lancet windows, and at the west end are the remains of what was probably the west wall of the 13th century church.  In the south porch a niche above the outer arch and a small window in the east wall of it are of the 14th century.  Within and without, in the north and south aisles, the north and south walls of the transepts are distinguishable, and their eastern walls have been pierced to form arches into later north and south chapels.
That there was a church here in Norman times is almost certain, but nothing of it remains.  It was probably rebuilt or enlarged at the time when Bishop Jocelin acquired the living from the abbey of Mont St. Michel and attached it to the Treasurership of Wells Cathedral in 1226.

15th Century.  Early in the 15th century, chapels were built to the east of the transepts and their east walls were pierced for arches.  Theses chapels were opened to the chancel by constructing in the north and south walls arcades of two arches.  The south chapel was the Lady Chapel, and the north chapel was dedicated to St. Thomas.
The construction of these arcades seriously weakened the north and south walls of the chancel, and the outward inclination of the piers is still very marked.  For the safety of the church it was considered necessary to take down the central tower and this originated a great work of reconstruction in the latter half of the 15th century.
The space occupied by the tower was thrown into the nave, and a new nave was built outside the line of the old one.  The western walls of the transepts were removed and they were extended westwards to form north and south aisles.  The porch was rebuilt outside the line of the new south aisle and vaulted, but the 14th century window, niche, and corbel heads were retained.  A much wider arch was built between the nave and the chancel, and provision was made for a rood loft to run in front of the chapel and chancel arches with a staircase on the north side.
A clerestory was added and the windows filled with heraldic glass, and the whole covered with the present splendid tie beam roof.
Finally, a tower was built at the west end of the church against the old west wall, which was pierced for a lofty panelled arch to allow the light of the great west window to flood the church.

Restoration and Changes

An extensive work of restoration was begun in 1860.  The chancel was restored and the restoration of the nave completed in 1884.  The leads of the tower and the aisles were renewed and repaired in 1923 and again, with the nave roof in 1954.  In 1934 the bells were rehung on ball bearings and four years later a new clock was constructed by Messrs John Smith & Sons of Derby.  The clock is now automated.  

Between 1973-1975 the entire central nave roof was restored at a cost of £67,000 and the area at the west end was cleared of pews.