An internal combustion engine having a heat with valve assemblies for controlling intake and exhaust gases to and from piston chambers. A head plate is located between the head and a block having cylinders accommodating pistons. The head plate has openings in communication with the cylinders and valve assemblies. Each valve assembly has a continuous ceramic sleeve having an intake port, an exhaust port, and ignition hole. Rotatably disposed within the sleeve is a rotatable valve body having a valving combustion chamber open to a piston chamber. A ceramic segment seal member movably mounted on the valving body has sealing surfaces engageable with the sleeve. A face seal is located between the head plate and the rotating valve body. The valving body and seal member are rotatably driven to sequentially align the valving combustion chamber with the intake port, ignition hole, and exhaust port during the operation of the engine.