Charlton Horethorne
Because it is unusual to step down into a Christian church, it is possible that this site was used as a place of worship before the conversion of the West Saxons in the 7th century. The discovery, around 1880, of a Roman incense altar buried in the churchyard tends to bear this out. Those remains can be seen to the left of the pulpit.
The name suggests that there was a Christian church here at the turn of the 7th and 8 centuries, when a significant number of churches were built in the area. Dedication to St. Peter and St. Paul was rare after 750 AD, until much more recent times.
What is likely to have been the first stone building was built around 1100 AD. Narrow and rectangular in shape, it occupied a part of the site of the south aisle. There, the east window may date from that time. The plain, circular font, now in the vestry, has been said to be of the same period. The building was enlarged early in the 14th century, assuming the present dimensions of the south aisle, apparently to accommodate the ogee-shaped tomb recessed within the south wall. The tomb is probably that of a member of the de Camville family who had been Lords of the Manor.
Later in the same century, there was a substantial further enlargement, with the building of the present nave and north aisle and a part of the chancel. What is now the far end of the chancel, together with the tower, were added in the 15th century.
14th century features include representations of the heads of King Edward III and his queen on the corbels of the north arcade, the octagonal capitals of which are decorated with the mediaeval ballflower design; one of two empty statuary niches towards the top of the north aisle wall at the east end; two further tomb recesses, at the bottom of the same wall, heavily restored in the 19th century; and a rood loft doorway at the southeast
corner of the north aisle. Records indicate that across the east end of the north aisle, where there is now a family memorial chapel, there was a chantry chapel administered by visiting canons from Kenilworth priory, to which the de Camvilles had transferred the patronage of the church. 15th century features are the second of the statuary niches on the north wall, to the left of the first and with traces of colour, which suggest a Madonna and child; a small piscina set into the far end of the chancel south wall; and fragments of stained glass in the west window. The eight carved oak chairs date from the 17th century, two of them from 1608, and the floor paving from the end of the 18th century.
There was a major restoration in 1863, when the porch, the south arcade, much of the south aisle and some of the chancel were rebuilt and redecorated. Heads, representing the then Prince and Princess of Wales, were added to the corbels of the south arcade and two more, of St. Peter and St. Paul, were placed on the chancel arch. This work was followed by the erection of the lychgate in 1888. The organ is of the same period. Although the bellows have been operated electrically since the 1950's, the original manual pump and handle are still in place.
Of the church bells, one, thought to be 14th century, predates the building of the tower; another dates from the 15th century; and two more are from the Stuart period. The remaining four of the peal of eight were hung in 1885. In 2003, the 19th century wooden frame was replaced by a metal one and all the bells were retuned.
Sources:
Buildings of England-South and West Somerset - N. Pevsner
Sir Stephen Glynne 's Church Notes for Somerset - M. McGarvie
The Parish Church Towers of Somerset - Peter Poyntz Wright
The King's England - Arthur Mee
The Story ofCharlton Horethorne in Somerset - Robert Williams