The Chancel

The Altar decorated for Harvest Festival

The Nave before Evensong

The splendid country parish church of Holy Trinity, is set in the lovely village of Cold Ashton. To the south there is a fine view over St. Catherine's valley, while to the north enthusiastic walkers can follow the Cotswold Way, which in fact travels through the churchyard. The parish of Cold Ashton includes not only the village itself, but extends to the hamlets of Nimlet and Pennsylvania on the A46 road and reaches down to Lower Hamswell and Battlefields on the Lansdown road into Bath.

As you approach the church, generally the immediate fact of interest is the church Tower. This is by far the most ancient part of the church and is well over 700 years old.

The main body of the parish church goes back nearly 500 years. Thomas Key, who was Rector here in the early 16th Century, was responsible for the rebuilding of the whole church between 1508 and 1539. He paid for the work himself and we can be only grateful that he made such a good job of it. Looking up, once you are inside the church, you can see the fine clerestory windows with their excellent stone tracery.

Thomas Key left us reminders of his contribution by his "rebus" of signature in stone, which you can discover at the main entrance to the church with "T" on one side and Key on the other. You will find a similar memento on the north side of the Sanctuary.

The Chancel viewed from the Nave

As you enter the church interior you can look to your left and notice the Royal Coat of Arms. These are of George the First and are painted as a "hatchment".

As you approach the Altar at the east end of the church, you will notice on your left an inscription in Latin in honour of Thomas Key which translates:

Buried in the ground thereby made famous lies the worshipful Thomas surnamed Key, Rector, who out of his love of God Almighty, did at his own cost build this holy church. May God Most Holy, Three in One, for such a gift grant him (a place in) His Heavenly Kingdom.

From the south aisle you may notice the squint or hagioscope, possibly to view the high altar from the chantry chapel which was situated here.

The font decorated for Harvest Festival

The present appearance of the church interior dates from the 19th Century when two of the Sayers family - father and son - were Rectors from 1853 - 1914. Their work includes the present arrangement of the pews, the installation of the original organ, the present east window which depicts the Baptism of Jesus by John (this was given in memory of Revd. Edward Sayers and his wife).

The Sayers family was also responsible for a fine history of the parish of Cold Ashton written by members of that family.

To your left as you face the altar, you can discover some excellent memorials, particularly to the Whittington family. The Whittingtons, a distant relation to the famous Dick, lived in Hamswell House from the early 16th Century until the last descendant sold the property in 1936.

The  early 16th Century pulpit is set in the north wall. The approach to the pulpit is set on the steps which originally led up to the Rood Screen, and you can still see the setting for the Medieval feature of the church within the chancel walls on both sides of the Chancel. The two Bells in the church Tower are dated 1616 and 1637.

Both the church building and the churchyard are beautifully and lovingly cared for. We warmly invite you to come and explore them both.

The East Window

The church decorated for a wedding in 2005