Church of the Holy Trinity, Paulton

The Church of the Holy Trinity stands in the Somerset village of Paulton, beside a quiet churchyard. Built on the site of an earlier church, it was founded in 1235 and later rebuilt in 1757. The tower at the west end dates from the reign of Edward III and was refaced with Doulting stone in 1757. John Pinch carried out a major restoration in 1839 as the coalfield workforce grew. Two stone effigies in the church are thought to represent members of the Palton family. The church holds a notable collection of bells recast by the Bilbie family in 1742. A sixth bell was added in 1897 to mark Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee. The clock was installed in 1872. The chancel and organ chamber were added in 1864 to serve the expanding congregation. Paulton remains part of the 10 Lamps ministry group and shares a benefice with nearby churches. Inside, the church contains the two effigies and the restored organ chamber. The tower houses the six bells and the 1872 clock. Outside, the churchyard holds a cholera monument to victims of outbreaks in 1832 and between 1844 and 1850. Several other historic monuments stand among the graves. The building remains a local landmark in the centre of Paulton.