---
title: "St Swithin, Bath"
description: "Located in Bath, Somerset. Built 1777–90. Diocese of Bath and Wells. Grade II*. Georgian classical style."
category: "Church"
tags: ["Church","Church of England","Somerset","Bath","Walcot","Grade II*","Georgian","John Palmer"]
canonical: "https://thebritishgazette.com/post/st-swithin-walcot"
pubDate: "2026-09-06T03:02:35.588Z"
dateModified: "2026-09-07T20:34:01.711Z"
location: "Bath, Somerset"
country: "England"
county: "Somerset"
town: "Bath"
address: "The Paragon, Bath, Somerset, BA1 5LY"
postcode: "BA1 5LY"
built: "1777–90"
consecrated: "1777"
architect: "John Palmer"
denomination: "Church of England"
dedications: ["Swithin"]
diocese: "Bath and Wells"
grade: "II*"
style: "Georgian classical"
materials: "Limestone ashlar with hipped slate and lead roofs"
website: "http://www.stswithinswalcot.org.uk/"
openingHours: "Open Tuesday to Friday 9.30am to 4.30pm."
parish: "Walcot"
listEntryUrl: "https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1394245"
accessNotes: "Level access to the main areas. Accessible toilets in church"
---

# St Swithin, Bath

St Swithin’s is a Grade II* Georgian parish church on The Paragon, Walcot, Bath, the only remaining eighteenth-century parish church in the city, in the Diocese of Bath and Wells.

## Overview

Historic England records a parish church of 1779–90 by John Palmer, of limestone ashlar with hipped slate and lead roofs, a rectangular six-bay aisled plan and a west entrance tower. Giant Ionic pilasters articulate the elevations; the east end stands on a high rusticated plinth above London Street, with a shallow canted sanctuary. The three-stage tower has a slender octagonal spire on a cylindrical drum with Corinthian columns. The parish history states that a church dedicated to Swithun stood here soon after 971, its foundations beneath the crypt; a 1742 church by Robert Smith succeeded a storm-damaged Saxon building. Palmer’s church was consecrated in 1777, extended eastwards by two bays within ten years, and completed with a classical spire in 1790.

Jane Austen’s parents were married in the old church on 26 April 1764; her father George Austen is buried here. The church is open Tuesday to Friday 9.30am to 4.30pm.

## Further Information

- [Historic England list entry 1394245](https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1394245)
- [St Swithin’s Walcot: history](http://www.stswithinswalcot.org.uk/history.html)