Great Rissington is not as famous as its neighbouring village of Bourton-on-the-Water, and most tourist buses keep away from its narrow and twisting lanes as they travel through the Cotswolds. It is a “working” village, and many of the residents share surnames that are carved into the headstones in the churchyard. One surname that you will not find there is Souls, because what was left of the family with that name moved away after five of their six sons were killed within two years of each other in WWI. The five sons are buried, where they fell, in France or Flanders. They have become known as The Lost Souls of Great Rissington. The Imperial War Museum and Commonwealth War Graves Commission know of no greater sacrifice by a British family.

Although not in the graveyard, the names of the five Souls brothers are not forgotten. They are carved on a marble plaque inside the village church of St John the Baptist, along with the names of the others from the village who fell in that war. The twins Alfred and Arthur came into the world together in 1887, and they died, killed in action, just five days apart in 1918. Two years earlier – between March and early August 1916 - Albert, aged 20 was killed in action; Frederick, aged 30, was posted as missing in action; and Walter, aged 24, died of wounds.

The church sees a steady stream of visitors, touched by the story of the Souls family’s remarkable sacrifice, but the roof to the church is poor repair and needs to be replaced. The villagers are doing what they can to raise the funds necessary to re-roof this important building, and they are asking for your help. 

A time capsule, to be discovered the next time the church is re-roofed, will be offered to those donating £100 or more.