Church of St George

The Church of St George stands in the village of Ruishton, Somerset, on ground once occupied by a Norman church. Built between the 14th and 16th centuries, it is a Grade I listed building. The south chapel dates from the 14th and 15th centuries, while the nave roof was finished in 1549. The tower, begun in 1533, was never completed. Traces of the earlier church survive at the south door and in a font carved around 1380. A gallery added later was taken out during Victorian restoration in 1866.

The church is worth the journey for its layered history and surviving medieval details. The 14th-century south chapel and the 1580 font show craftsmanship from different ages. The unfinished tower of 1533 stands as a reminder of ambition cut short. The Grade I listing recognises the building’s national importance. The churchyard contains the remains of a 15th-century cross, adding another period piece to the site.

Inside, the nave and south chapel open up to reveal plain, spacious interiors. The 1380 font sits near the south door, its carvings worn by centuries of use. The removed gallery left clear walls and a simpler view of the roof. Outside, the churchyard holds the broken shaft and base of the old cross. Beyond the walls, Ruishton’s lanes and fields stretch out, giving a quiet setting for the old building.