St Peter's Church, Portesham

The church is thought to be built with stone from a local quarry. The earliest parts date from the 12th century; the church of that time probably had a shorter nave, with north and south aisles, and a shorter chancel. Part of the original north arcade (once leading into a north aisle) survives in the north wall. The present chancel dates from the 13th century, when the nave was lengthened and the tower was built. About 1500 the chancel arch was rebuilt, and the present narrow north and south aisles were built, with two-bay arcades in the eastern part of the nave leading to the aisles. The top stage was added to the tower at this time. The south porch was built later that century. The font,…

The north aisle was formerly known as the Waddon Aisle, as the people of Waddon, a hamlet east of Portesham, used to worship here. There was formerly a gallery at the west end of the nave, where musicians played; a corbel supporting it can be seen. The gallery was removed in 1872, and a reed organ was installed. This was replaced by an organ in 1895. The present organ, by Hill, Norman & Beard, was installed in the south aisle in 1968.