Old Church of St Nicholas, Uphill, Medieval church building on clifftop in Uphill, England
The Old Church of St Nicholas is a roofless stone church on a limestone cliff in Uphill, on the southern edge of Weston-Super-Mare. It has a three-stage central tower, a chancel, and an open nave that now stands without a roof.
The church dates from the Norman period and served the local community throughout the medieval era. In 1846 the congregation moved to a new building lower in the village, and the old church fell out of regular use.
The church is dedicated to Saint Nicholas, patron of seafarers, which reflects its position overlooking the sea. Three stone sundials are carved into the outer walls, and one of them shows Norman features that visitors can still examine up close.
The site is open on Sunday afternoons and bank holidays between Easter and September. The path up the cliff is steep and the ground is uneven, so sturdy footwear is a good idea before setting off.
The churchyard sits within the Uphill Cliff Site of Special Scientific Interest, a protected area designated for rare grass species found on the limestone. This means the ground around the church is as notable to botanists as the building itself is to historians.
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