Church Of St Thomas Of Canterbury

The Church of St Thomas of Canterbury is an Anglican parish church with origins in the 13th century, significantly restored and enlarged in 1861. Constructed primarily from local grey lias stone with Doulting stone dressings, it features a Welsh slate roof over the chancel and a plain clay tile roof to the nave, incorporating bands of fishscale tiles, coped gables with cross finials, and a catslide roof to the north aisle. The building comprises a three-cell plan: a two-bay chancel, a three-bay nave, and a north aisle, along with a north-east corner vestry, a south porch, and a west tower.

The chancel, seemingly from the 15th century, was rebuilt in the 19th century, retaining its 15th-century east window of three lights and two-light side windows in matching style, with a pointed arched doorway between the south windows. The nave, largely 19th century, has a three-light and a two-light window in the south wall, all in a 15th-century style. A 19th-century porch fronts the south wall with a plain outer arch and a moulded 4-centre arched inner doorway; to the right of the door is a stoup and a trefoil cusped statue niche above, flanked by small side windows. The north aisle, a 19th-century addition, has bay buttresses and a chimney. It features 2-light traceried windows, with a single light in the west wall. A vestry was added to the east end with a single-light window and a door recessed between the vestry and chancel.

The west tower, of 13th-century origins, has been modified and possibly heightened in the 19th century. It has a three-stage construction with a double plinth, angled corner buttresses, string courses, gargoyles atop the upper course, and a plain parapet. A stair turret is situated at the north-east corner. The tower's west side features a moulded 4-centre arched doorway with foliated square stops, above which is a recessed, 2-light window with an ornamental cill. A lancet window of 13th-century origin is located on the south face, with 19th-century 2-light pointed arched windows with pierced stone baffles on the remaining faces.

Inside, the chancel retains 15th-century character, including a barrel vaulted ceiling, a simple piscina, and a surround to an aumbrey in the north wall, with a door dated 1842. A double chamfered chancel arch, possibly from the 14th century, connects the chancel and nave. The nave has arched brace roof trusses, moulded arched recesses in the south wall (one possibly a piscina), and arches near the pulpit. The arcade is 19th-century, as is the north aisle. Furnishings include a 17th-century altar table, a sanctuary chair, a 19th-century font and pulpit, and several 16th-century bench ends with poppy-head finials to the pews. The first recorded rector dates to 1318.