Church of St Julian, Wellow

The Church of St Julian stands in the quiet Somerset village of Wellow, its present building dating from 1372 though parts may be older. The church holds Grade I listed status, recognising its national importance. A statue of St Julian with an oar above the porch hints at possible Roman connections. Wellow was granted to Wells Cathedral in 766 and later passed to Augustinian canons at Cirencester Abbey in 1117. Sir Thomas Hungerford rebuilt the church in 1369 and it was consecrated in 1372 by the Bishop of Bath and Wells. The building shows layers of history in every detail. The oak door in the 14th-century porch leads into a nave with a 15th-century clerestory and rood screen. The Hungerford Chapel contains wall paintings of Christ and the twelve apostles from the 15th century. A scratch dial on the south aisle marks the church’s ancient role as a timekeeper. The 1475 west tower rises in three stages with set-back buttresses and an embattled parapet. Inside, the font dates from about 1250 and has been restored over time. The octagonal stair turret on the south-east corner rises to an octagonal top. The tower’s bell chamber has a three-light window with cusped heads, while the west window is larger with a transom. The church remains part of a wider benefice and holds Sunday services at 10 am with refreshments afterwards.