Church Of St Margaret Of Antioch

The Church of St Margaret of Antioch is an Anglican parish church dating to 1833, designed by John Leachman. It was built on the site of a former Medieval chapel of ease and restored in 1891 by F.W. Hunt. The church is constructed of coursed rubble stone with a Welsh slate roof. It comprises a chancel and nave under a single roof, with a west tower over the entrance.

The central double ribbed west doors are set within a Tudor-arched surround with a square hoodmould, flanked by Tudor-arched doors with dripstones leading to lean-to vestibules. The four-stage Perpendicular-style tower has diagonal buttresses. The second stage features three-light Perpendicular-style windows with hoodmoulds, oculi (round windows) to the north and south, a circular clock face on the west side of the third stage, and two-light louvred windows at the bellstage. A cornice tops the battlemented parapet. On the south side of the tower, a chamfered lancet window is found in the vestibule, with nave and chancel to the right featuring four tall recessed lancets with Y-tracery and hoodmoulds, with buttresses between them. Roof verges are finished with saddleback coping on large kneelers. The east end has diagonal buttresses and a three-light east window. The north side mirrors the south, with four tall recessed lancets.

Inside, side entrances lead into vestibules containing staircases for the gallery. The gallery itself sits on four cast-iron columns, with a front featuring cusped panels and the Royal Arms of George III. The roof over the nave and chancel has a shallow pitch with rib panels. The east end has a Tudor-arched panel around the window, featuring attached shafts and stencilled decoration, and a reredos with prayer boards. A hexagonal pulpit, dating to the early 18th century, has inlaid panels and steps added in the 20th century. A mid-19th century octagonal stone font with traceried panels is located below the gallery. Pews and choir stalls were added in 1889 on a dais at the east end. Stained glass from 1908 by H.J. Salisbury is in the east window, with glass from the 1960s by Hugh Powell in the southwest window.

Monuments from the earlier church have been retained, including a slate and stone tablet on the south wall commemorating Thomas Aylesbury, rector who died in 1724, and a large classical marble on the east wall to Nathaniel Barton, who died in 1828. Several marbles are signed by Chapman of Frome, including one commemorating John Carpenter, who died in 1812. Retained wooden benefactions boards are dated 1688 (at the main entrance) and 1634 (on the south wall). Six 18th century bells, originally cast by Cockey of Frome, were rehung in the church.