List of Commissioners' churches in southwest England facts for kids
A Commissioners' church is a special kind of Anglican church in the United Kingdom. These churches were built using money approved by the British Parliament (which is like the government's law-making body). This happened because of a law called the Church Building Act of 1818, and other similar laws that followed.
These churches have a few different names, like "Commissioners' Churches," "Waterloo Churches" (because they were built around the time of the Battle of Waterloo), or "Million Act Churches." Sometimes, the Commissioners (the group in charge of the money) paid for the whole church. Other times, they gave a grant (a sum of money), and the local community raised the rest. This article lists the Commissioners' churches found in South West England.
Understanding Church Grades
When we talk about old buildings in the UK, they often have a "grade." This grade tells us how important or special a building is. It helps protect these historic places.
- Grade I: These are buildings that are super important. They are considered to be of amazing interest, sometimes even famous around the world.
- Grade II*: These buildings are also very important and have more than just special interest. They stand out from other buildings.
- Grade II: These are buildings that are important to the country and have special interest. Most listed buildings fall into this group.
- —: This means the church is not graded, often because it no longer exists.
Churches in South West England
Here's a list of the Commissioners' churches built in South West England. You'll see their names, when they were built, how much money they received, who designed them, and what makes them special.
| Name and Location | Picture | Built | Grant in £ |
Architect | Notes and Details | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Holy Trinity, Bath, Somerset |
|
1819–22 | 4,000 | John Lowder | Built in the Gothic Revival style, with a tower and spire on the southwest side. It was bombed in 1942 and taken down in 1957. |
|
| All Saints, Lower Brixham, Devon 50°23′43″N 3°30′58″W / 50.3954°N 3.5162°W |
 |
c. 1819–24 | 1,552 | Thomas Lidstone | Designed in the Gothic Revival style. It was rebuilt between 1894 and 1906, possibly keeping some parts of the first church. | II |
| Holy Trinity, Kingswood, Gloucestershire 51°27′43″N 2°30′14″W / 51.4620°N 2.5039°W |
 |
c. 1820–21 | 2,457 | James Foster | A Gothic Revival church with a tower. The chancel (the part of the church near the altar) was added in 1889. | II* |
| St George, Brandon Hill, Bristol 51°27′15″N 2°36′14″W / 51.4543°N 2.6038°W |
 |
1821–23 | 9,263 | Robert Smirke | Built in the Neoclassical style, which looks like ancient Greek or Roman buildings. It has a Doric portico (a porch with columns) and a cupola (a small dome on top). | II* |
| St Paul, Starcross, Devon 50°37′31″N 3°26′58″W / 50.6252°N 3.4494°W |
 |
1826–27 | 1,491 | Charles Hedgeland | Designed in the Greek style with a cupola. It was rebuilt in 1854. | II |
| St Paul, Chacewater, Cornwall 50°15′13″N 5°09′23″W / 50.2537°N 5.1564°W |
 |
1826–28 | 2,976 | Charles Hutchins | A Gothic Revival church with a tower. The church was rebuilt in 1892, but the tower stayed the same. | II |
| Holy Trinity, St Day, Cornwall 50°14′15″N 5°11′02″W / 50.2374°N 5.1839°W |
 |
1826–28 | 3,178 | Charles Hutchins | Built in the Gothic Revival style with a tower on the west side. It is now derelict, meaning it's in a very bad state and not used. | II |
| St Mary, Redruth, Cornwall |
|
1827–28 | 1,523 | Charles Hutchins | A Gothic Revival church with a small tower (turret) on the west side. It has since been taken down. |
|
| St John, Truro, Cornwall 50°15′36″N 5°03′13″W / 50.2601°N 5.0537°W |
 |
1827–28 | 1,407 | Philip Sambell | A Neoclassical church with a bell turret. It was changed between 1893 and 1900. | II |
| St Saviour, Bath, Somerset 51°23′45″N 2°20′47″W / 51.3957°N 2.3464°W |
 |
1829–31 | 4,263 | John Pinch the younger | Built in the Gothic Revival style with a tower on the west side. A chancel was added in 1882. | II* |
| St Paul, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire 51°54′25″N 2°04′38″W / 51.9070°N 2.0772°W |
 |
1829–31 | 3,626 | John Forbes | A Neoclassical church with Ionic columns, a portico, and a tower. More parts were added in 1917. | II* |
| Holy Trinity, Bristol 51°27′29″N 2°34′34″W / 51.4581°N 2.5760°W |
 |
1829–32 | 6,031 | Thomas Rickman and Henry Hutchinson | A Gothic Revival church with two turrets and a clerestory (a high section of wall with windows above the main roof). It was made bigger in 1889. | II* |
| St Mark, Bath, Somerset 51°22′35″N 2°21′31″W / 51.3765°N 2.3585°W |
 |
1830–31 | 4,840 | George Phillips Manners | Built in the Gothic Revival style with a tower on the west side. A chancel was added in 1883. It has been redundant (no longer used for regular church services) since 1972. | II |
| St Paul, East Stonehouse, Plymouth, Devon |
|
1830–31 | 3,180 | John Foulston | A Gothic Revival church with a tower. A chancel was added in 1891. It has since been taken down. |
|
| Christ Church, Warminster, Wiltshire 51°12′00″N 2°11′11″W / 51.2000°N 2.1864°W |
 |
1830–31 | 1,755 | John Leachman | A Gothic Revival church with a tower. A chancel was added in 1871, and nave arcades (arches in the main part of the church) in 1881. | II |
| Christ Church, Shaw, Wiltshire 51°23′25″N 2°09′41″W / 51.3904°N 2.1614°W |
 |
1836–38 | 400 | Thomas Henry Wyatt | Built in Gothic Revival styles. A steeple (a tall, pointed tower) was added in 1905. | II* |
| Holy Trinity, Selwood, Frome, Somerset 51°14′02″N 2°19′41″W / 51.2339°N 2.3280°W |
|
1836–39 | 300 | Henry Goodridge | A Gothic Revival church with a tower on the northeast side and small spires (spirelets). | II* |
| Holy Trinity, Trowbridge, Wiltshire 51°19′07″N 2°12′53″W / 51.3187°N 2.2147°W |
 |
1837–38 | 1,676 | A. F. Livesay | A Gothic Revival church with a tower. | II* |
| Holy Trinity, Bridgwater, Somerset |
|
1838–39 | 962 | Richard Carver | Built in the Gothic Revival style. It was restored (fixed up) in 1876, but has since been taken down. |
|
| Christ Church, Coxley, St Cuthbert Out, Somerset 51°11′13″N 2°40′46″W / 51.1870°N 2.6795°W |
 |
1838–39 | 250 | Richard Carver | Built in the Gothic Revival style. | II |
| Holy Trinity, Stroudshill, Stroud, Gloucestershire 51°44′36″N 2°12′30″W / 51.7433°N 2.2083°W |
|
1838–40 | 1,142 | James Foster | A Gothic Revival church with a bell turret. | II |
| Christ Church, Derry Hill, Wiltshire 51°26′14″N 2°03′18″W / 51.4372°N 2.0551°W |
 |
1839–40 | 250 | Thomas Henry Wyatt and David Brandon | A Gothic Revival church with a tower and spire. | II |
| St Paul, Whiteshill, Gloucestershire 51°45′35″N 2°13′56″W / 51.7598°N 2.2321°W |
 |
1839–41 | 400 | James Foster | Built in the Norman Revival style (like old Romanesque buildings) with a tower. Transepts (parts of the church that stick out like arms of a cross) were added in 1882. | II |
| Holy Trinity, Plymouth, Devon |
|
1840–42 | 1,000 | George Wightwick | Designed in the Italian style with a bell turret. It has since been taken down. |
|
| Christ Church, Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire 51°21′04″N 2°14′56″W / 51.3510°N 2.2490°W |
 |
1841 | 350 | George Phillips Manners | A Gothic Revival church with a tower and spire. A chancel was added in 1878. | II* |
| St Luke, Bristol 51°27′16″N 2°33′50″W / 51.4544°N 2.5640°W |
|
1842–43 | 500 | Samuel Welch | A Gothic Revival church with a tower, cupola, and spire. | II |
| St Paul, Easton, St Cuthbert Out, Somerset 51°13′33″N 2°41′54″W / 51.2257°N 2.6982°W |
 |
1842–43 | 150 | Richard Carver | Built in the Norman Revival style with transepts. | II |
| St Michael, Devonport, Devon |
|
1843–45 | 1,000 | Benjamin Ferrey | A Gothic Revival church with a bell gable (a wall with an opening for bells) and a turret. It was bombed in 1942 and taken down. |
|
| Holy Trinity, Dilton Marsh, Wiltshire 51°14′50″N 2°13′02″W / 51.2472°N 2.2171°W |
 |
1844 | 400 | Thomas Henry Wyatt | Built in the Norman Revival style with a tower and transepts. | II* |
| Christ Church, Plymouth, Devon |
|
1844–45 | 1,000 | George Wightwick | Designed in the Tudor Revival style with bell turrets. It was changed in 1876 and later taken down. |
|
| St Mary Magdalene, Barnstaple, Devon |
|
1845–46 | 500 | Benjamin Ferrey | A Gothic Revival church with a tower. It was taken down around 1977. |
|
| St Simon, Bristol |
|
1846–47 | 300 | Samuel Gabriel and John Hicks | A Gothic Revival church with a tower and spire. It was changed in 1876. |
|
| St Michael, Baldhu, Cornwall |
|
1847–48 | 200 | William White | This church was taken down in 1991. |
|
| St Michael, Bristol 51°27′43″N 2°31′16″W / 51.4619°N 2.5211°W |
 |
1847–48 | 100 | Samuel Gabriel | Built in the Gothic Revival style. It was changed in 1897. | II |
| Holy Trinity, Carnmenellis, Cornwall |
|
1848–51 | 150 | John Hayward | A Gothic Revival church with a bell turret. It has since been taken down. |
|
| St George, Truro, Cornwall 50°15′51″N 5°03′33″W / 50.2643°N 5.0591°W |
 |
1848–55 | 100 | Rev. W. Haslam | A Gothic Revival church with transepts and a tower. | II |
| St Jude, Bristol 51°27′27″N 2°34′48″W / 51.4574°N 2.5800°W |
 |
c. 1849 | 275 | Samuel Gabriel | Built in the Gothic Revival style. It is now redundant (no longer used for regular church services). | II |
| St Paul, Charlestown, Cornwall 50°20′10″N 4°45′39″W / 50.3361°N 4.7607°W |
 |
1849–50 | 250 | Christopher Eales | A Gothic Revival church with transepts. | II |
| St Paul, Devonport, Devon |
|
1849–50 | 350 | J. P. St Aubyn | A Gothic Revival church with a spire. It was bombed in 1942 and taken down. |
|
| St James, Devonport, Devon |
|
1849–51 | 400 | J. P. St Aubyn | A Gothic Revival church with a steeple on the southwest side. It was bombed in 1942 and taken down. |
|
| St John the Baptist, Godolphin Cross, Cornwall 50°08′00″N 5°20′48″W / 50.1333°N 5.3466°W |
 |
1849–51 | 220 | J. P. St Aubyn | Built in the Gothic Revival style. It has been redundant since 2002. | II |
| St Peter, Treverbyn, Cornwall 50°22′48″N 4°47′23″W / 50.3799°N 4.7897°W |
|
1849–51 | 150 | G. E. Street | A Gothic Revival church with a bell gable on the west side. | II |
| St Mary, Devonport, Devon |
|
1850–51 | 350 | J. P. St Aubyn | A Gothic Revival church with a tower and spire. It was bombed in 1942 and later changed for other uses. |
|
| Holy Jesus Church, Lydbrook, Gloucestershire 51°50′18″N 2°34′34″W / 51.8384°N 2.5761°W |
 |
1850–51 | 100 | Henry Woodyer | A Gothic Revival church with a tower. It was changed in 1913. | II |
| St John the Evangelist, Tatworth, Somerset 50°50′52″N 2°57′27″W / 50.8478°N 2.9574°W |
 |
1850–51 | 300 | John Pinch the younger | Built in the Gothic Revival style. | II |
| St John the Baptist, Pendeen, Cornwall 50°09′00″N 5°39′55″W / 50.1501°N 5.6653°W |
 |
1850–52 | 200 | Rev. R. Aitken | A Gothic Revival church with a tower. |
|
| Holy Trinity, Penponds, Cornwall 50°12′24″N 5°18′57″W / 50.2068°N 5.3159°W |
|
1850–54 | 150 | J. P. St Aubyn | Built in the Gothic Revival style. |
|
| St John the Evangelist, Plymouth, Devon 50°22′13″N 4°07′42″W / 50.3703°N 4.1283°W |
|
1851–55 | 300 | Benjamin Ferrey | A Gothic Revival church with a tower and spire. | II |
| St Luke, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire 51°53′41″N 2°04′22″W / 51.8947°N 2.0729°W |
|
1853–54 | 250 | Frederick Ordish | A Gothic Revival church with a tower, spire, and transepts on the west side. It was changed in 1866. | II |
| St Clement, Bristol |
|
1854–55 | 100 | Samuel Gabriel and Hurst | A Gothic Revival church with a bell turret. It was rebuilt later. |
|
More Commissioners' Churches
If you're interested in finding out about more Commissioners' churches, you can check out these other lists:
- List of Commissioners' churches in eastern England
- List of Commissioners' churches in the English Midlands
- List of Commissioners' churches in London
- List of Commissioners' churches in Northeast and Northwest England
- List of Commissioners' churches in Wales
- List of Commissioners' churches in Yorkshire
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