Church of St Swithin, Bath

The Church of St Swithin is a Gothic Revival building with detailed stonework, tall windows, and a classical spire completed in 1790. Inside, visitors find intricate woodwork, stained glass windows showing the Ascension, and numerous memorial tablets from past centuries.

Construction took place between 1777 and 1790 under architect John Palmer on the site of an earlier 10th-century religious building. The church was built during Bath's period of rapid growth when the city needed new parish churches.

The church holds special meaning for visitors interested in Jane Austen, as her parents married here in 1764 and her father was buried in the crypt. This connection draws people who want to understand the personal background of the author.

The church is easy to reach on foot in the Walcot area of Bath and welcomes quiet exploration of its interior spaces. Visitors should allow time to look closely at the details, from decorative elements to the colored windows and memorial plaques throughout.

This is the only 18th-century parish church remaining in Bath, giving it a distinctive place in the city's story. The entrance gates feature rusticated base panels and decorative upside-down torches that reflect the craftsmanship of the period.

Location: Bath and North East Somerset

GPS coordinates: 51.38850,-2.35934

Latest update: December 11, 2025 18:04