Staple Fitzpaine, a parish 5-1/2 m.  S.E. of Taunton.  Its church is distinguished for an exceptionally beautiful W. tower.  Though it is not lofty, its decoration is unusually rich.  It has double windows in the belfry stage, and the single windows in the stage below are flanked with niches; whilst the summit is crowned with pierced battlements and graceful crocketed pinnacles.  The S. door is Norm., with rather uncommon mouldings.  The interior is of less interest:  it contains a small screen.  The cross in the churchyard has a modern head, elaborately carved with figures and scenes.

Staplegrove, a parish which is virtually a suburb of Taunton.  Of the church the only ancient part is the tower (on the S. side).  The rest of the fabric has undergone restoration, though it retains a hagioscope and two piscinas.

Stavordale, a small hamlet 3-1/2 m.  N.E. of Wincanton.  Here an Augustinian priory was founded in 1263 by R. Lovel, the existing conventual church being built in 1443.  The remains are now converted into a private residence.  The shell of the church is intact, and a small bell-cot will be seen marking the division between the chancel and the nave.  The roof of the chancel is unusually flat.  On the N. is a projecting chapel containing a fan-traceried roof of considerable merit, but the interior of the building is not now on view.

Stawell, a parish 3-1/2 m.  S.W. of Edington Station.  Its church (restored in 1874) has a low gabled tower, and once had an aisle, the piers of the arcade being still visible; but it has been restored, and its early features lost.

Stawley, a village on the Tone, 3 m.  S.E. of Venn Cross station.  The church is a small E.E. building with a W. tower, on the face of which is a series of twelve panels bearing the inscription, Pray for the souls of Henry Hine and Agnes his wyffe, A.D. 1522.

Stockland Bristol, which derives its name from the fact that it formed part of the endowment of Gaunt’s Hospital, in Bristol, is a parish 7 m.  N.W. from Bridgwater.  Its church has been entirely rebuilt (1865), but retains its Perp. font.

Stocklinch, a village 2-1/2 m.  N.E. of Ilminster.  Its small church has no tower.  The E. window is Dec.; there is a sun-dial of 1612, and an ancient font.

Stogumber, 5 m.  S. by E. of Watchet, with a station about a mile away.  It is a large village at the foot of the Brendons, and preserves in its name the memory of its Norman lord, Stogumber being a corruption of Stoke Gomer (cp.  Stogursey).  A spring on the hillside has medicinal qualities, and the water is used for brewing a particular kind of ale.  The church, in the main Perp., is an interesting structure, with a tower at the S.W. corner.  The tower arches, pointed and recessed, are supported on chamfered piers without capitals, and two piers of the S. arcade have only rude capitals, and are