---
title: "Downside Abbey, Stratton on the Fosse"
description: "Located in Stratton on the Fosse, Somerset. Built 1873–1938; west front unfinished. Diocese of Clifton. Grade I. Gothic Revival (Early English and Perpendicular) style."
category: "Church"
tags: ["Church","Catholic Church","Somerset","Stratton on the Fosse","Grade I","Abbey","Gothic Revival","Giles Gilbert Scott"]
canonical: "https://thebritishgazette.com/post/downside-abbey-stratton-fosse"
pubDate: "2026-09-06T02:49:46.910Z"
dateModified: "2026-09-09T12:31:10.220Z"
location: "Stratton on the Fosse, Somerset"
country: "England"
county: "Somerset"
town: "Stratton on the Fosse"
address: "Stratton on the Fosse, Somerset, BA3 4RH"
postcode: "BA3 4RH"
built: "1873–1938; west front unfinished"
architect: "A M Dunn and E J Hansom; Thomas Garner; F A Walters; Sir Giles Gilbert Scott"
denomination: "Catholic Church"
dedications: ["Gregory"]
diocese: "Clifton"
grade: "I"
style: "Gothic Revival (Early English and Perpendicular)"
materials: "Bath stone ashlar with red plain-tile roofs"
website: "http://www.downside.co.uk/benedictine-monastery/downside-abbey-church/"
openingHours: "Sorry, there are no regular opening times for this church."
parish: "Downside Abbey"
listEntryUrl: "https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1058633"
gridReference: "ST 655 508"
accessNotes: "Level access to the main areas. Accessible toilets nearby"
---

# Downside Abbey, Stratton on the Fosse

The Abbey Church of St Gregory the Great at Downside is a Grade I Benedictine abbey church at Stratton on the Fosse, Somerset, a major Gothic Revival basilica built in phases from the 1870s and still unfinished at the west end.

## Overview

Historic England lists the abbey church and north cloister (list entry 1058633). Work began in 1873 (Heritage Gateway notes transepts from 1872) for Benedictines who had settled at Downside after leaving Douai. Architects in date order are A. M. Dunn and E. J. Hansom, Thomas Garner, F. A. Walters and Sir Giles Gilbert Scott; interior fittings include work by those architects and Sir Ninian Comper. The fabric is Bath stone ashlar with red plain-tile roofs.

The listing and later summary describe transepts and the tower base of the 1880s by Dunn and Hansom in Early English; a Lady Chapel and radiating chapels of about 1890 in French Perpendicular; a chancel of about 1901–05 by Garner in Early Perpendicular; a nave of about 1923–25 by Scott; and the tower finished in 1938 by Scott in Somerset Perpendicular. The west front remains incomplete. Heritage Gateway grid is ST 6550 5084. The church is a minor basilica as well as the monastery church.

## Further Information

- [Historic England list entry 1058633](https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1058633)
- [Downside Abbey](http://www.downside.co.uk/benedictine-monastery/downside-abbey-church/)
- [British Listed Buildings: Abbey Church of St Gregory the Great](https://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/101058633-abbey-church-and-minor-basilica-of-st-gregory-the-great-and-the-north-cloister-downside-abbey-stratton-on-the-fosse)