St. Catherine's is situated
in nearby Swell, the name Swell apparently being derived
from Monk’s Well.
The quiet and peace of tiny St Catherine’s has its
own attractions hidden away behind mediaeval Swell
Court.The
south porch entrance has a Norman chevron arch and the
font is also of that date.The carved wooden pulpit and desk have the date
1634. Even to this day there is no electricity, the
church being lit by candlelight only.
a
The
porch and entrance to St. Catherine's
Interior
showing the pulpit and font
Floor
Slabs
In the sanctuary there is a small
brass insert with the following inscription:
Here lyeth the body of John Tooƒe Eƒquire who was
maryed to Agnes the daughter of Thomas Newton
Eƒquire,
havinge iƒƒue by her xiii ƒonnes and vi
daughters
deceaƒƒed the xthdaye of June AºDni 1582
In the chancel is
a small brass with the inscription:
Elexander Newton Eƒquyer the whiche
deceƒƒed the
iii day of November the yere of our lord m
vixxxiii on
whoƒe ƒoule Jhu. have mercy
Amen
Bells
Awaits photograph
St Catherine’s has two bells which rest on the floor
of the Nave.They
were originally designed to be hung from an open bellcot
but the structure was declared unsafe and taken down
early in the 20th century. They were
apparently sold at some time to Holy Trinity, Taunton,
but were returned to Swell in the 1980s as they were not
used.
