About West Camel
West Camel is a small village and parish in south Somerset, seven miles from the towns of Sherborne and Yeovil, with a population of about 450. The parish includes the hamlet of Urgashay.
This is a pleasant village, straddling the river Cam, and with an attractive Village Green, an old Tythe Barn and an historic Parish Church. Over the years, villagers have raised a large amount of money for local projects, including a playing field with children’s play equipment and a multi-purpose sports court. The most ambitious project was the Davis Hall, an excellent facility opened in 2001, where most village activities now take place.
The name “Camel” derives not from the animal, but from the name “Cantmeel”, “Cantmell” or “Cantmel”, by which West Camel was formerly known.”Cantmeel” itself derives from the words cant (ridge) and mael (bare). The village was also known as Camel Abbatis for its association with Muchelney Abbey. This is one of many sites in England identified as a possible setting of The Strife of Camlann, related as the final battle of King Arthur.
Read more on our Village history page
Running through West Camel is the Leland Trail, a 28 miles (45.1km) footpath that follows in the footsteps of John Leland, as he traversed across South Somerset in 1535–1543, during his investigations of the district’s antiquities. The Leland Trail begins at King Alfred’s Tower on the Wiltshire/Somerset border and ends at Ham Hill Country Park. West Camel also has its own Village Trail – a brochure with map and illustrations is available in the Davis Hall.
The parish council has responsibility for local issues, including setting an annual precept (local rate) to cover the council’s operating costs and producing annual accounts for public scrutiny. As elsewhere, the parish council evaluates local planning applications and works with the local police, district council officers, and neighbourhood watch groups on crime, security, and traffic. Its role also includes initiating projects for maintaining and repairing parish facilities, and consulting with the county council on the maintenance, repair and improvement of highways, drainage, footpaths, public transport, and street cleaning. Conservation matters (including trees and listed buildings) and environmental issues are also within its responsibility.
The village falls within the unitary authority area of Somerset Council, which controls local planning and building, local roads, council housing, environmental health, refuse collection and recycling, cemeteries and crematoria, leisure services, parks, and tourism. Somerset Council is also responsible for running the most expensive local services, such as education, social services, libraries, main roads, public transport, trading standards, and strategic planning. West Camel belongs to the electoral ward of Castle Cary.
The village belongs to the Glastonbury & Somerton Parliamentary constituency (Camelot electoral ward) wef General Election in July 2024. The current MP is Sarah Dyke (Liberal Democrat).
The Church of All Saints dates from the late 14th century. It is a Grade 1 listed building. Its rectory dates from the early 15th century. The older wing may form part of the Grange pertaining to Muchelney Abbey; the south wing was probably added by Rev. Henry Law between 1824 and 1836.
We invite you to find out more about the village, its people, and activities by exploring this web site. And if you pass this way, please drop in!
With acknowledgement to Wikipedia https://creativecommons.org/licences/by-sa/3.0/
All Saints Church History
Records show that there was a wooden church around 995 AD, which was replaced by a stone building with a small tower in the Norman period (c.1100). The nave and north chapel were added c.1200, the small Norman building becoming the chancel of the enlarged building.
In the 15th century the pulpit was added, the height of the nave, north chapel and tower was raised by about half, and the fine nave roof was added. Many other improvements were made, but sadly these were destroyed in the religious turmoil of the late 16th century. The spirelet on the tower was added in 1631.
All Saints Church has six bells, one of which dates from the 15th century and weighs approx. 370 kilos. The most recent bell was added in 1977, the others having been re-hung in 1951.
In 1835 pews were erected in the chancel, paid for by those who sat in them. The vestry minutes record that the people who paid for them “drew lots for the choice of situation”. The present entrance-porch was built in 1866, replacing an earlier one which has been demolished. There is a list Rectors of West Camel all the way back to 1317.
The foregoing is only a summary of the history of All Saints Church. This attractive, historic church is well worth a visit, and further information about its history is available in the church.
Substantial internal renovations were completed in spring 2007. These include the provision of running water, kitchen facilities, and a disabled toilet. The organ was moved to the newly-built gallery.
Methodist Church History
Although Methodism in West Camel goes back to the 19th century or even earlier, when the Methodist Chapel on the Sparkford road was built in 1908 the A303 was a narrow country lane.
West Camel Methodists had previously worshipped in an “upper room” above a carpenter’s shop in Keep Street. The thatched roof leaked when it rained, and when the congregation was large (it seated 80) props had to be placed beneath the floor to support it! The necessity for a new church became increasingly apparent, but lack of funds prevented this dream from becoming a reality for many years. It was when Mr and Mrs A E Clothier came to reside at Vale Farm and offered a plot of land for a new church that plans really got under way, and an estimate of £497.50 from Messrs. Chapman and Co., Builders of Yeovil was accepted. On June 14th 1908 the stone-laying ceremony took place, and new premises were officially opened on 24th September 1908.
In 1974, an extension, including kitchen and toilets, was added, and in 1998, to coincide with the 90th anniversary celebrations, extensive alterations were undertaken. This involved reversing the interior layout of the chapel, constructing a new entrance, and renovating the church hall.
Over time, the A303 has become the busy London to Exeter trunk road and presented a danger to worshippers. This, together with our isolation from the village, deterred people from coming to us. In July 2016 we entered into a Building Sharing Agreement with our friends at All Saints Church, with whom we have had a very happy working relationship for many years. This has enabled us to be a more effective part of our community. We have our own services most Sundays, as well as regular united services and events.
In 2020 our congregation decided to join the Independent Methodist Connexion of Churches, while continuing to share the church with our Anglican friends, and supporting them whenever possible.
Our Methodist worship, with our own preachers, will continue as before, although we hope to have more united services and events. The membership of the church is quite small, but it is a lively and friendly church. Why not come and meet us — you are assured of a warm and friendly welcome!