Old Church of St James, Upton facts for kids

The Old St James's Church is a very old church building in the village of Upton, Somerset, England. Today, only its tall tower is left standing. This tower looks out over Wimbleball Lake.

This old tower is very important. It is listed as a Grade II* listed building. This means it is a special historic place that needs to be protected. The Churches Conservation Trust takes care of it. The church was no longer used for services on November 4, 1971. It was then given to the Trust on May 24, 1973, to be preserved.

What's Left of the Old Church?

The original church was built in the 14th century, which means it's over 600 years old! It had a square chancel (the area near the altar) and a rectangular nave (the main part where people sat). Together, these parts were about 20 meters (66 feet) long and 4 meters (13 feet) wide.

Today, only the lowest parts of the nave and chancel remain. The most complete part is the tower. This tower has three levels. It was originally built without extra supports called buttresses. However, in the 1800s, a buttress was added to one corner to make it stronger. The tower was made safe in 1973 so it wouldn't fall down.

Why a New Church Was Built

The current parish church of St James was built in 1870. It was built to replace this old church. People thought the old church was too far away from the village for everyone to easily get to. So, they built a new one closer to where people lived.

Where Did the Bells Go?

The bells from the Old St James's Church were not left behind. They were moved and used in other places! One bell is now at the St John the Baptist church in Pitney. Another bell traveled all the way to Green Point, New South Wales, Australia.

See also

• List of churches preserved by the Churches Conservation Trust in South West England