Parish Churches

A short History of both churches can be read by clicking here

St. Mary’s - Alton Barnes

The church continues to be alive and active, and St Mary's is now fully open for private reflection and for prayer every day.

St Mary’s.This Saxon church is our regular church of worship for villagers. The long and short stone corner quoins, the impost moulding of the present Victorian chancel arch and the tall narrow nave pointto the Saxon foundation, but the church has been subject to much restoration. The tie-beamed and wind braced roof is 16thcentury while the pulpit, balustered font and panelled gallery are Georgian.

More recent additions are the beautiful memorial panes of glass etched by both Laurence Whistler and his son Simon, the renowned glass artists, who each lived in the village for some years, have been installed in the south widow of the chancel.

Church Warden:- 01672851466

NEW PEW CUSHIONS FOR ST MARY'S

If enough people are interested in helping, there is a possible plan to make tapestry pew cushions for St Mary's similar in style to the kneelers in this photograph, but probably with rather simpler local designs: Woodborough Hill, the White Horse, the Canal, the Springs, Adam's Grave, flora and fauna etc. These would be tapestry panels, each one with the initials of the person who made it and the date. They would then be mounted on material and made into cushions, and should look very good in our church, as well as making the pews rather more comfortable. Please could anyone who enjoys doing tapestry and would like to know more about this project email:meriel@balston.co.uk.

Church of St Mary, Alton Barnes, Wiltshire. Tree-ring Analysis of Oak Timbers (click for full report)

All Saints - Alton Priors

All Saints.There are 3 services annually and the Music For Awhile summer concerts in this ancient church set in the meadows between our two villages.

Photos of the

Family FriendlyPicnic Party

on 26 June, 2022

All Saints' roof Appeal.

In thesummer of 2015 half the lead roof from All Saints’ was stolen. Music for Awhile has been workingwith the Churches Conservation Trust (CCT) to investigate both medium - and long -termsolutions to this problem. Whilst grant sources for the major work are being researched, the CCThas agreed that it is essential to protect the church from further water damage and possibleirreparable decay.

An interim measure has been applied which will protect the church for up to a decade, whilesignificant funds can be raised towards a permanent solution. A sophisticated rubberoid roofmembrane has been laid over the damaged roof, which is barely noticeable from the ground,preserving the beauty of our historic building.

The engraved window (by Frank Grenier) for the North Chancel has beencompleted and will be installed over the coming months. Photo:- Deborah Husk

All Saints’ Alton Priors Donation Formclick here to download

All Saints’ with the new rubberoid roof

The Chapelry of Priors is mentioned during the time of Alfred the Great. Lords of the Manor from the 13thto 17thCentury at Alton Priors were the Buttons who lived at the nearby Priory.

In the churchyard is the 1,700 year old yew tree. Other points of interest at All Saints are the two walled-up doors on the North and South side, the former with a surmounting consecration cross, the scratch sundial on the tower and the eccentric position of the chancel with respect to the main body of the church.

Despite the acquisition of a paten of 1638, the past importance of the chapel, exemplified by the perpendicular tower, the twelth-century chancel arch with pelletted frieze imposts and wide nave declined, and its former role in the rural community fell to the tiny sister church of St Mary, Alton Barnes. 

All Saints is maintained byThe Churches Conservation Trust.

All Saints’ Alton Priors Donation Formclick here to download

On 14 June 2019 a Lime Washing party set to work:-