Churches of the British Isles

Details of the older building are lacking. It was valued in 1291, when the original form of the dedication would have been in use: Church of the Assumption of our Blessed Lady. That building was replaced about 1400. The large window in the south aisle was added in the 1500s. Extensive rebuilding about 1738 was followed by a new north aisle in 1847, and restorations have been carried out since. The roof was retiled in 2013 and two new bells were added in 2006.

Brompton Ralph Church House once stood on the churchyard's southern side, presumably near the cross shown here and main lane through the village. In the 1400s and 1500s many parishes had a church house in which people met for 'Church Ales' (fun-filled fundraisers for the church). This one existed by 1598. It was described as the parish house in 1641, on the south side of the churchyard. It was said to be in a dangerous state in 1772 and had collapsed by 1793.

Brompton Ralph Congregational Chapel, Brompton Ralph, opened in 1840 following open air and cottage meetings. It sits on the eastern side of the main lane, about sixty metres north of the junction with the Pitsford Hill lane. Still active post-war it was registered as an Independent chapel in 1974 and was still open in 1981 with about eight members and a small Sunday school. It later closed and the building was converted into a private residence.

St Mary Magdalen's Church, Clatworthy, sits on the north-west side of the main lane through this small hamlet. The area has been occupied since at least 1000 BC, with a priest probably here by AD 1189. The original Norman church building of local stone is also thought to date from the 1100s. The walls are extremely thick, a precaution taken by its builders to ensure that the heavy roof would be supported. The tower may date from the 1100s but the 1200s is more likely.

The tower was altered between 1860 and 1883. Other new work at that time included windows in the nave and the rood stair to the rood loft, which would have been over the chancel although only the stair survives. Two important restorations were completed in 1865 and 1888. These saw the addition of the vestry on the north side, the unblocking of the rood stair, although the loft had already gone, and the replacement of the pews with open benches.

Photos on this page kindly contributed by Robert Cutts and Huw Thomas (two each), and Keltek Trust, all via the 'History Files: Churches of the British Isles' Flickr group, and one photo copyright © Roger Cornfoot via Geograph, reused under a cc licence. Additional information by Dr Helen Wilson, and  from Buildings of England, South and West Somerset, Pevsner, 1958.