Church Of St Ida

The Church of St Ida is a parish church dating back to the 14th and 15th centuries, although it was largely rebuilt in 1870-71 by J.P. St Aubyn. The church is constructed of stone rubble with slate roofs. It comprises a nave, chancel, west tower, and north and south aisles. There are circa 14th-century three-bay arcades to the north aisle and circa 15th-century five-bay arcades to the south aisle. In 1869, the west tower collapsed, taking part of the nave with it. This tower was subsequently rebuilt and the church restored in 1870-71.

The west tower has three stages, a battlemented parapet, and corner turrets. A stair turret is located on the north face. A circa 15th-century Catacleuse stone arch has been reset to the west door, alongside a 19th-century Perpendicular west window. Reset circa 15th-century belfry lights are also visible. The north and south aisles feature 19th-century tracery, and the south porch was rebuilt in the 19th century, with the arch to the south entrance being reset.

Inside, the nave and chancel have a 19th-century arch braced roof, with lean-to roofs to the aisles. The chancel roof has ornate stencilling, signed 'Whatley, Frome, Somerset. 1882' and ‘Fred James, Frome, Somerset. 1882’, and restored in the 1980s. The stencilling covers the walls, organ, and roof, applied directly to the granite pillars at the east end of the south arcade. The north arcade’s piers consist of a cluster of four shafts with four demi-shafts. The south arcade incorporates type A piers, as classified by Pevsner. The church contains 19th-century furnishings. A font features a granite round bowl supported on a central shaft with four renewed attached columns, set on a square base. Also present are a fine circa late 14th-century carved Catacleuse stone panel, reused as a reredos, and a circa late 14th-century carved Pieta at the east end of the south aisle, both pieces likely originally part of a monument or tomb. A carved bowl is also present in the holy water stoup.