Who built the Church? There are no records existing; the people, with few exceptions, could not read or write, which makes research difficult. The Manor from early times has been the property of the Abbots of Glaston, and was leased by them, pre-conquest, to a thegn. This was all the lower half of the village including the site of the churchyard; so it may have been at their instigation that it was reserved for a church. Perhaps the new owners of the Manor, Maud and Philip de Columber, who came in 1154 built it, nobody knows but the building by its architecture must have been there before 1200.

Although no stone church was built here before 1088, could there have been a simple place of worship before then? It seems strange that when the Saxon village was built round what is now The Square, and dwellings raised along Lower Road and Church Street, and the Manor below, this considerable area was left vacant in the middle of the community.

There is no evidence which has so far come to light of any other burial place in the area and yet there are sites of earlier settlers, Romans and early Britons, all around us. We can only surmise, but it does seem quite likely that our Church was built on the traditional place of worship in the village. The earliest part of the Church to be built was the nave, after Domesday was compiled in 1086, but quite soon after, because the old Norman doorway is clearly to be seen in its original place, and now provides access to the 'amenities' extension.

A charter of 1285 allowed for an arch to be made in the north wall of the Church for a Chantry Chapel (now usually referred to as "the transept"), dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary and built by Gilbert de Wollavington, vicar of Huntspill and the wealthy owner of the other Manor and the larger part of Woolavington. A pious man, he gave various charitable gifts to enable 3 monks to be supported and pray for his soul and the souls of others there. Successive monks were active in the church until they were pensioned off following the Reformation. The Chapel has triple and couplet lancet windows, with a very low altar under the east window. There is also a piscina in that wall.

With the growth of the village the Church needed to be enlarged, and it seems a plan was made to extend it on the west side. A tower with transepts was started but either the ground was found to be unsuitable, or for some other reason, work ceased. Today only the remains of the low pitched roof of the westward extension can be seen on the outside of the tower, and the arches at the base of the tower have been filled in. The date of this work was about 1380. Excavations carried out in 1998 (in connection with the "amenities" extension) revealed extensive footings to the north and west of the church which may have formed part of the foundations for a completed or projected north transept, and "a substantial wall foundation" which may have been part of an earlier church.

Around the 14th century, which seems to have been one of great activity in church building, an arch was made at the east end and the Chancel was built. There was a rood screen under this arch and the door in the south wall of the nave, by the pulpit, and steps leading up to it can clearly be seen. In early time this was a very important part of the ritual and worship of the church. Now no trace of the screen remains. A hagioscope or squint was made in the north side of the arch so that the monks could see when the priest at the new altar elevated the Host.

About this time the two square-headed windows on each side of the tower were made, and the first part of the actual tower was started. Examination of the upper part of the tower and the circular stair show that it was built a few years later.

Many changes were in fact taking place around 1400. The north door was blocked in and a new porch built on the south side. Obviously with more houses being built this would be easier access than walking all round the back to the old Norman door. The handsome and interesting porch has a heavy oak door and very good iron work. The splendid Sanctuary Knocker is a valuable survival from the late 14th century.

The south window in the chancel which is of pleasing design is probably 15th century. It is suggested that the mason who put in the late 17th century east window also added the unusual decoration to the piscina. Originally we are told this window was stained glass, but a zealous vicar thinking to improve the light had it removed, and now it is lost.

Except for the parapets on the tower (17th C), by the end of the 15th century the outside of the church (except for the north side) would seem very much as it does today. Inside work was still proceeding, a pulpit was made up of 6 finely carved panels dated about 1500 which, with two Elizabethan strap panels, have been incorporated into a framework of a similar date. The panels were said to come from Sharpham Park the home of Henry Fielding (playwright 1707-1754) and were rescued from an antique shop. It is a pity this rather splendid pulpit stands on a common wood base.

The 15th century stone font stands near to the old Norman door. The four carved oak panels, discovered under the transept floor in 1998, also appear to be 15th century and were probably formed bench-ends.

A interesting memorial is the Hody stone which is housed over the south windowsill of the chancel. This stone was found on the floor of the Church beneath the tower when the Church was restored about the year 1880. The letters are J.H. and they stand for John Hody, who was Chief Justice of England in the 15th century. It is on record that the will of the Chief Justice, Sir John Hody, directs that his body be buried in the church of Woolavington in Somerset near the body of Magister Johannes Hody, his uncle. There is a vault near the outer wall of the tower evidently extending underneath the floor of the Church at the west end. It is believed that this is the vault in which Magister Johannes Hody and his nephew the Chief Justice, were buried in the 15th century. Sir John Hody died in 1441 and by his will he made bequests to the Chantry Priests of Woolavington "for the love that he hadde to hyt, for ther he begane hys fyrst lernyng".

The church has a very fine peal of 8 bells, and this is mainly due to the modern team of bellringers who raised the money to replace the old worm-eaten bell frame and had two extra bells cast and the others retuned in 1986-87. The earliest bell dates from 1400 and the other originals are dated 1550, 1611, 1691 (2 recast in 1937) and 1953. We feel we are fortunate indeed to have 'live' bells when so many churches have to have 'canned' peals.

The original earth floor would have been lower than it is now, having being raised when the wooden floor was laid. The Chancel flooring is made up of 19th century encaustic tiles, and the nave gangways are a mixture of stone slabs and red tiles, although, apart from an area surrounding the font, these are now all hidden by red carpeting.

The vestry is a Georgian addition and the 'amenities' extension including 'disabled' toilet and allowing easy wheelchair access to the church, was built in 1998/99 when the old Norman door was re-opened revealing an arch within an arch. The original Norman arch had been partially infilled and the top lowered in height, with the insertion of a pointed arch in the Gothic style (possibly of 14th century origin). Also in 1998/99 the Victorian pews were removed from the transept, restoring it for use as a chapel, and creating a meeting area. Mains water and drainage were connected to the church, and an oak teabar was installed under the north window of the transept.

Succeeding generations of churchgoers continue to care for and embellish the building, and a rota of people clean, polish, and decorate the church with flowers Sunday by Sunday. A worthy memorial to the many who have loved it and worshipped here for nearly 9 centuries.

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