Whitchurch, Somerset (one of many settlements of the same name across the British Isles) is a village and now a suburb adjoining south Bristol. Incredibly, there are still green fields to the S and W of the church: right up to the S churchyard wall. That is very deceptive, for Whitchurch ceased to be a discrete village some time between the world wars ― being swallowed up by the sprawling Bristol conurbation. Whitchurch itself sits on Lower Lias bedrock, mostly White and Blue Lias Limestone but there are areas of clay. The village must have been an important stage and crossroads on the route between Bristol and the south. It is perched on a gently north-shelving platform at an altitude of about 70m above OD, about 30m below the pass over which travellers have to pass. Keynsham, the manorial centre, is about 2.5 mi to the NE; there is equally easy access to the SW, to the Chew valley including the possible minster church of Chew Magna and the impressively Romanesque Compton Martin.

The church of St Nicholas was built between the 12thc and 15thc, with a 19thc restoration. It consists of nave, N porch, S chapel incorporated in a S transept, S aisle and porch, N transept, central crossing tower and chancel. The N doorway is 12thc but perhaps restored; the Crossing piers and font are also Romanesque.

The name Whitchurch (white church) was first recorded in 1230, although there is a suggestion that it could have been been used as early as 1065. At the time of DB, Whitchurch was part of the fifty hides of Keynsham, and was afterwards granted by William de Clare, Earl of Gloucester, to the Augustinian Canons founded by him in Keynsham. Edward II confirmed the grant, and it remained with Keynsham abbey until the Dissolution. (Collinson, 1791).

This is a church deserving to be studied by historians and connoisseurs of the Romanesque.

That the basic design of the church is cruciform (like the church at Queen Charlton c.1 mi to the ESE) suggests an awareness on the part of the Normans of high ecclesiastical status. Fortunately, there is plenty of space at the very fine crossing not only for liturgical purposes but also to appreciate the high quality of the Late Norman piers and their decoration. The lucky survival of early features is probably due to lack of money for refurbishment. The fact that the Crossing arches are fully pointed suggests they have either been rebuilt, or are late Transitional in date.

The font was presumably moved to its present position (conventionally, at the NE angle of the SW part of the S aisle, just W of the S Portal) when the western part of the said aisle was built in 1862. Fonts of this large cushion-capital design are common in N Somerset.

Grateful thanks are due to the most generous help given by the churchwarden, Mrs A Sealy, for access to the church and sharing her own historical research.