Church of St Peter

The Church of St Peter stands in the village of Hornblotton, Somerset, replacing a medieval church on the same site. Sir Thomas Graham Jackson designed the present building in the 19th century for the rector Godfrey Thring. A stump of the old tower remains in the churchyard, and the vestry contains a reused piscina and memorial. The church is Grade I listed, recognising its architectural importance. Inside, visitors find an early electric clock, the first in England to strike the hours. Made by Charles Shepherd, it was once controlled from a nearby house and later restored at the Science Museum. The walls display sgraffito decoration in the Arts and Crafts style, with figures such as Moses and Isaiah outlined in contrasting plaster. Patterns of sunflowers and leaves appear in terracotta tones beneath the white surface. The church belongs to the Six Pilgrims benefice and lies within the deanery of Bruton and Cary. Its setting combines the quiet of a Somerset village with the craftsmanship of the Victorian era. The reused fragments and striking clock tell a story of change and continuity across centuries.