Church of the Holy Ghost, Midsomer Norton

Professor Nikolas Pevsner (in his work, 'The Buildings of North Somerset and Bristol'), places the barn's construction to the 15th century as typified by the tracery in the window above the porch and the design of the great doorway. There are further period comparisons to be made with the 15th century Bishop's Barn at Wells, namely the construction of the walls and buttresses and also the arch-braced timber-framed roof. There are however features more reminiscent of the earlier thirteenth century (such as the small doorway in the porch), which are believed to be characterful affections to retain 'the old ways'.

It is unclear if the barn was actually used to store tithes, but it is clear that it was a 'Church Barn'. As a result of the Dissolution of the Monasteries, the barn became the property of King Henry VIII and was subsequently handed to Christchurch College Oxford, with who it remained until 1886. There are still ties between Midsomer Norton and Christchurch, in that the living of Midsomer Norton still lies in the gift of Christchurch College, Oxford. The barn was then resold and eventually came into the possession of Downside Abbey in August 1906. In 1913, the barn became a church and has been served by Downside ever since. The current Parish Priest is Dom Michael Clothier OSB.

The building is constructed in the shape of a Christian cross, a 'template' followed by many other barns barns of the period. The Church of the Holy Ghost has its own history and guide published by Downside Abbey Press in 2001 with a text written by Dom Benet Innes, parish priest from 1962 to 1985. This guide is available in the Church.