The Building and its Layout
Writing at the turn of the 19th century, the Reverend C Powell, then Vicar of East Coker, described the slightly haphazard construction of the church:
‘It may be said that everything is odd about the Church. The two rows of pillars are of different styles and ages. One side of the nave is half a yard longer than the other. The chancel ridge is out of straight with the ridge of the nave. The transepts do not exactly match one another in position, shape or dimensions. The wall of the East end of the chancel quite slopes away to the North-east, and the East window is on a slanting base, and not central in the East wall.’
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But we still love it!
General Layout
Standing at the back of the church - looking up at the centre aisle (the nave) towards the altar at the east end of the building, your back will be to the west door. The church is cruciform in shape and to your right you will see the thirteenth century, Early English arches and pillars forming the south arcade which separates the south aisle from the main body of the church. In contrast the pillars and arches to your left are of the fifteenth century perpendicular style forming the north arcade.
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In ancient times all villagers were required by the Lord of the Manor to attend church services. As the population increased more space was required within the church. The north side of the nave was pierced, pillars and supporting arches were constructed and an additional aisle provided. This could account for the two building styles in the arcades. The fifteenth century, Perpendicular style of the north arcade and all of the windows in the church including the panelled arches from the side aisles into the transepts, and the appearance of the nave from the outside, suggests that the whole church, apart from the south arcade and perhaps the chancel was virtually rebuilt at this time