Church of the Holy Trinity, Paulton facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Church of the Holy Trinity
Location	Paulton, Somerset, England
Listed Building – Grade II*
Official name: Church Of The Holy Trinity
Designated	21 September 1906
Reference no.	32855
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The Church of the Holy Trinity in Paulton, Somerset, England, is a very old and important church. It was first built way back in 1235! This church is a special "Grade II* listed building," which means it's protected because of its history and unique architecture. It's a place where people have gathered for hundreds of years.

A Long History

The Church of the Holy Trinity is part of the Anglican Church, which is a type of Christian church. It was built on the spot where an even older church once stood. For a long time, it was connected to the Church of St Mary Magdalene in Chewton Mendip. This changed in 1841 when it became its own parish church.

The church building you see today has been changed and updated many times. It was largely rebuilt in 1757. Later, in 1839, it was carefully restored by an architect named John Pinch. These updates were needed because the village of Paulton was growing. Many people were moving there to work in the Somerset coalfield. In 1864, more parts were added, including the chancel (the area around the altar) and a special room for the organ.

Inside the church, there are two stone statues. People believe these statues are of members of the Palton family. The village of Paulton is actually named after this family!

The Tower and Bells

The church has a tall, square tower with three sections. This tower was built during the time of King Edward III. It stands at the west end of the church. In 1757, the outside of the tower was refaced, meaning new stone was put on it. This stone came from the Doulting Stone Quarry.

The church bells have a long history too. In 1742, the bells were remade by the famous Bilbie family, who were well-known bell makers. Later, in 1897, a sixth bell was added. This new bell was put in place to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Queen Victoria's time as queen. A clock was also added to the tower in 1872.

Remembering the Past

The churchyard around the Church of the Holy Trinity holds many interesting monuments. One very important monument is dedicated to the people who died during a serious illness called cholera. There were two outbreaks of cholera in Paulton. The first was in 1832, and 72 people (23 men, 23 women, and 26 children) sadly passed away. A second outbreak happened between 1844 and 1850, and 62 more people (14 men, 14 women, and 34 children) died. This monument helps everyone remember those who were lost.

There are also several other old and interesting monuments scattered throughout the churchyard. Each one tells a small part of the village's history.

See also

• List of ecclesiastical parishes in the Diocese of Bath and Wells