Parish Church Of St Peter And St Paul

Parish church. Built between 1819 and 1822, incorporating medieval fabric in the base of the tower. Designed by George Smith, and constructed with Roman cement render and some Bath stone dressings. The roof is slate, pitched to a parapet. The church is in the Perpendicular Gothic style.

The main body of the church comprises a 5-bay nave with aisles and a clerestory. There is a chancel arch leading to a 2-bay sanctuary and flanking chapels. A three-stage south east tower features an oculus to the first floor, 2-light bell louvres above, a crenellated parapet, and octagonal corner turrets. The east window is a large 5-light window with reticulated tracery, while other windows are of Perpendicular design, culminating in a spectacular five-light Perpendicular west window; grotesque label stops adorn the aisle windows.

The interior includes tall arcades supported by clustered columns, from which rises a remarkable, elegant tierceron plaster vault. Remnants of a rear gallery, modified in 1869, remain. A font dating from the 1820s and a reredos from 1899 are also present. Monuments include those to Sir Ambrose and Lady Crawley (died 1713 and 1727) by Gibbs and Rysbrack, to John Hyde (died 1810) by Rouw, and tablets to the Tate family by Charles Harris. A war memorial features a central panel depicting St George and the Dragon, designed by Martin Travers.

The church is considered an early example of a Gothic Revival church designed in a pure Perpendicular style. George Smith, long the architect to the Mercers' Company, drew on historical styles in his church designs, and this building serves as his exemplar of the Perpendicular style.