Although the parish church of St Peter at Monkton Farleigh was largely rebuilt in the 19th century, it retains some features of the 12th century -the tower and the north door. This early building was possibly connected to the foundation of the Cluniac Priory in the same village in about 1120-30.
Today it has an aisleless nave and chancel in 13th century style, built of local limestone, under a considerable quantity of stone tiles on the roof. Despite being so close to the source of some of the best building stone in the country, the whole church, apart from some dressings, is made of rubble stone. It is listed, Grade II* for the old parts.
Monkton Farleigh church tower
The west tower is 12th century Norman romanesque with twin round-headed windows with roll mouldings on each face of the bell chamber. Short buttresses at the base, the parapet and saddleback roof were added later. The tall arch into the nave is from a Victorian “restoration”.
The other medieval survival is the porch on the north side of the nave, which protects a typical Norman round-arched doorway with chevron decoration into which a Tudor doorway had been inserted and retains its wooden door of that time.