St George's Church

St George’s Church stands in the Somerset town of Taunton, its roots reaching back to Saxon times. The present building mixes ancient stonework with later additions, the tower rebuilt in the 19th century to a Perpendicular Gothic design. Richard Carver enlarged the nave and chancel in the 1830s, while J. Houghton Spencer reorganised the interior in 1870. Rubble masonry with hamstone dressings supports a slate roof, and the vestry dates from around 1900. The church serves the parish of Wilton and belongs to the Diocese of Bath and Wells. The church’s history is visible in its fabric. Saxon ‘long and short’ stones survive in parts of the walls. The tower’s diagonal buttresses and embattled parapet show the Perpendicular style common in Somerset. Carver’s Gothic revival work added two nave bays and a chancel with two chapels. The Reverend Nick Griffin ministers here today, continuing the church’s long service to the community. Inside, the nave and chancel lead to the chapels, their Gothic details softened by later fittings. The rebuilt tower rises above the town, its bell openings set in two stages. Hamstone dressings catch the light, contrasting with the plain rubble walls. The vestry, slightly newer than the rest, provides a quiet space for preparation. From the outside, the church presents a solid silhouette against Taunton’s skyline.