Old Church of St James, Upton

The Old Church of St James stands in the village of Upton, Somerset, overlooking Wimbleball Lake. Only its tower remains from the original 14th-century church. The tower is a Grade II* listed building and is cared for by the Churches Conservation Trust. The church was declared redundant in 1971 and transferred to the Trust two years later. A buttress was added to the tower in the 19th century to strengthen it. The tower was made safe in 1973 after years of disuse. The church once had a square chancel and a rectangular nave, measuring over twenty metres long and four metres wide. The lowest parts of the nave and chancel still survive today. The current parish church, built in 1870, replaced this older building because it had become too distant from the village. Bells from the old church were reused elsewhere, including in Pitney and even in New South Wales, Australia. Visitors find the tower standing alone in a quiet village setting near the lake. The surrounding landscape offers views across the water and the countryside. The tower’s three stages and simple design reflect its medieval origins. A single buttress marks the 19th-century repair work. The contrast between the old tower and the newer church nearby is striking. The site remains a quiet place for reflection.