St Michael and All Angels' Church, East Coker

St Michael and All Angels’ Church is a Grade II* listed parish church in the Church of England in East Coker, Somerset.HistoryThe church dates from the late 12th century, but much of the surviving fabric is 15th century. In the 14th century the rector was appointed by the Lord of the Manor at the adjoining Coker Court. The window of the asouth transept includes the coat of arms of the Helyar family who were the local lords, including William Helyar who became archdeacon of Barnstaple and built the Helyar Almshouses.The central tower was replaced in 1791 by a north east tower designed by Joseph Radford.The brass eagle lectern was dedicated on Christmas Eve in 1898 in commemoration of the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria’s reign.The church is noted as the resting place of the poet T. S. Eliot whose ashes were interred in 1965.IncumbentsRectors up to Peter Falewell, after that, VicarsOrganThe pipe organ is by E. Lifford and Co of Yeovil. A specification of the organ can be found on the National Pipe Organ Register.BellsThe tower contains a ring of 8 bells, all dating from 1770 or 1771 and cast by Thomas II Bilbie of the Bilbie family.