Brent Knoll is a hill that arises out of the Somerset Levels near Burnham-on-Sea in Somerset. It is a prominent local landmark that is easily visible from the M5 motorway. Our church has nestled on the south facing lower slope of the hill since Norman times. Most of the construction of the church took place between the 12th and 15th centuries. One of its treasures is a wooden carved ceiling with ninety six uniquely carved panels and ornate wooden bosses that dates from around 1490. For a number of years the roof above this ceiling had been leaking and a decision was made in 2018 to renew the roof, and thus protect the ceiling from possible damage. Our project to achieve this goal was entitled Save Our Special Ceiling (SOS Ceiling) and was supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. The Parish also received funding from other sources to complement their funding. Community involvement is a key component of NLHF support and a linked communityinvolvement project entitled Promoting Education about Church Heritage (PEACH) followed the building work. The main community involvemnt work in PEACH is ending in December 2022.
This website was a key component of the PEACH Project. The aim was to provide a "one stop shop" for those who wish to learn about our church's heritage. We recognize that interests in heritage will vary. Some will just wish to know how old the building is and some simple facts about its history, but others will want to explore the building's heritage in depth. We are fortunate to have a detailed history of the church written for the Millennium, which has been revised for inclusion in our website.
Navigating our website is simple. Information about the Heritage is divided into three sections. The first is about Our Project Work. This also provides some background on our Parish of Three Saints that includes two other local villages, East Brent and Lympsham. The second Our Church concentrates on the building and its history. It aims to provide a a range of options from a simple introduction to our heritage, through varying levels of detail culminating in the in depth view of John Page’s Millennium History. The third section concentrates on the Churchyard. This is extensive and a magnet for local wildlife. The gravestones also provide a focal point for heritage research, which has been one of the achievements of the PEACH Project.
Finally, there is a section entitled Support Us. All village churches require to raise funds to support their running costs. St Michael's is no exception, and we rely on local donations and fundraising to maintain our beautiful church.