Garrison Church of St George

A garrison church and First World War memorial, built between 1920 and 1927 by the Salisbury architects G.L.W. Blount & Williamson.

The building is constructed of coursed, rock-faced Bath stone with ashlar quoins and dressings, set on a moulded ashlar plinth. The nave is roofed in graduated Precelly slate, whilst the aisles feature a blocking course pierced by capped buttresses.

The church follows a cruciform plan with a seven-bay aisled nave, crossing tower with pyramidal spire, choir, sanctuary, and a vestry positioned in the south-east angle. The west end comprises a single-storey entrance flanked by eight aisle bays forming a narthex.

Designed in the Perpendicular style, the west front is buttressed with a central bay that projects forward. This central bay contains a recessed moulded entrance with pointed two-leaf doors approached by steps, flanked by two-light traceried windows. Above sits a large wheel window. The outer bays contain lancets and flat-arched three-light traceried windows with quatrefoils above. Both the door and nave apexes terminate in stone crosses, and the bays flanking the door feature embattled parapets. The north and south aisles each begin with a blind western bay, followed by buttressed bays containing large five-light traceried windows. Entrance porches are positioned at the bays adjoining the crossing. The transepts each have a small wheel window and two lancets below; the south transept additionally contains two flat-arched three-light windows at ground floor, whilst the north transept has three lancets. A vestry in the north transept/chancel angle features a flat-arched three-light window, side door, and pyramidal roof. The east front displays a similar five-light traceried window to the aisles. A circular stair turret with conical roof occupies the angle of the north transept and chancel. The lead rainwater heads, upper pipe sections, and gutters are embellished with bas-relief figures, animals, and emblems.

A foundation stone on the east front, inscribed "THIS STONE WAS LAID BY F.M. LORD METHUEN G.C.B. G.C.M.G. G.C.V.O. ON WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 13TH 1920", marks the ceremonial commencement of construction.

The interior features ashlar Bath stone walls. The roof over the nave is constructed as an oak hammer-beam wagon roof. The crossing is roofed in stone vault, embellished with a central carved dove boss and angel corbels. The nave arcading consists of pointed arches with right-angled pointed arches to each aisle bay. The north transept houses a small side chapel with a band loft above, whilst the south transept contains a small side chapel with an organ loft. The floor throughout is oak block except in the chancel, which is laid with Carter & Co (now Poole Pottery) terracotta tiles featuring black and blue bands with inset bas-relief rectangles depicting whales and pelican in piety in blue and white and orange and white.

The east window, donated by the Royal Artillery Association as a First World War memorial, was created by T.W. Camm of Smethwick. It depicts the Risen Christ flanked by saints protagonist, with heraldic panels beneath and upper foiled roundels showing the regimental badge and cap badges. The west window, purchased by subscription from Officers' Messes and Garrison Units in 1933, depicts Christ in Glory set among the heavens with sun, moon, and stars in vibrant colours. Side chapel windows depicting St Helena and St Ursula were purchased by Officers of the Garrison in 1936. Further windows throughout display regimental crests and insignia, including windows for the Royal Engineers in the south aisle and the Royal Army Medical Corps in the north aisle.

The oak pews, fixtures, and fittings are predominantly given as memorials. The richly carved oak pulpit bears an inscription: "IN LOVING MEMORY OF MAJOR GENERAL F.D.V WING C.B : R.A KILLED IN ACTION AT LOOS OCT 2 1915 AGED 54." Major General Wing, who had commanded the 12th Division of the Royal Artillery, is buried in Noeux-Les-Mines Communal Cemetery, France.

A polygonal stone font with stone and marble clustered column base was given by the Bath Stone Company. In the vestibule on the west face of the nave end wall is inscribed: "IN MEMORY OF THOSE WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE GREAT WAR THE SUM OF EIGHT HUNDRED POUNDS COLLECTED BY THE REV. H.M. WEBB-PEPLOE, O.B.E., C.F. WAS GIVEN TOWARDS THE BUILDING OF THIS CHURCH A.D. 1923." The organ was built by Sweetland of Bath.