Church of St James, Ashwick

The Church of St James stands in Ashwick, a village in Somerset. Built in the 19th century, it replaced an earlier church on the same site. The tower, however, dates from the 15th century and remains a striking feature. The church was designed in the Victorian Gothic style by Browne and Gill of Bath. It sits beside Ashwick Court, a grand house that shares its historic setting. The church’s history goes back further than its current building. The earliest record of a church here is from 1413, when Bishop Bubwith dedicated a churchyard. Originally, it served as a chapel for the nearby parish of Kilmersdon. The village became its own parish later, and in the 20th century, it took on responsibility for two more villages. The church also holds memorials to notable local figures, including John Billingsley, a key figure in Somerset’s agricultural past. Inside, visitors find simple yet elegant aisles with memorial tablets to the Billingsley family. The churchyard includes a war grave for a Home Guard officer from the Second World War. The tower, with its medieval roots, still rises above the village. The building’s Gothic details and peaceful surroundings make it a quiet place to reflect on history.