Church of All Saints, Aisholt

All Saints Church
Location	Aisholt, Somerset, England
Coordinates	51°6′47.22″N 3°09′4.97″W / 51.1131167°N 3.1513806°W / 51.1131167; -3.1513806Coordinates: 51°6′47.22″N 3°09′4.97″W / 51.1131167°N 3.1513806°W / 51.1131167; -3.1513806
Built	14th century
Listed Building – Grade II*
Official name: Church of All Saints
Designated	29 March 1963[1]
Reference no.	1178112
Location of All Saints Church in Somerset

All Saints Church in Aisholt, Somerset, is the Anglican parish church for the ancient parish of Aisholt, now part of the Quantock Villages Benefice in the Diocese of Bath & Wells and lying in the Civil Parish of Spaxton.^[2] The earliest part of the existing building is the irregular and asymmetrical chancel arch which dates from the 14th century. The remainder of the building appears to be 15th century with later alterations and some slight 'restoration' in the 1890s.^[3] Some interesting features of the building are:

• A 'squint' or piercing in the masonry to allow the altar to be viewed from the South aisle.
• A 'hatchment' or Coat of Arms Painted on the wall above the Door.
• A medieval parish chest cut from a single log.
• A 'piscina' in the chancel

Notable People who have worshiped in Aisholt Church include  :

• The Poet Henry Newbolt who owned The Old Schoolhouse at the bottom of the valley.
• A plaque in the church commemorates the educationalist Olive Willis
• Poet and librettist Anne Ridler who was a pupil of Olive Willis at Downe House.^[4]
• Theologian, poet, novelist, occultist and Inkling Charles Williams.^[4]

The Church appeared in a Coleridge-themed pop video for Swing out Sister.

References