St. Mary's Church, East Knoyle

St. Mary's Church is a Church of England parish church in East Knoyle, Wiltshire, England.

St Mary's Church, East Knoyle

History

The Church of England Parish Church of St Mary was begun before the 1066 conquest.[1] Pevsner described its chancel as "Norman in its bones" and wrote that its 17th-century plaster decoration, a "surprise and delight", "ought to be the purpose of a visit from every Wiltshire tourist".[2]

The church was extended in the 13th, 14th and 15th centuries, with a large tower added in the 15th. Plasterwork in the chancel depicting biblical scenes was designed in about 1639 by Dean Christopher Wren.[3] Five of the six bells are from the 18th century.[4] The building was further extended in the 19th century, along with restoration in 1845 by Wyatt and Brandon, and interior alterations in 1875-6 by Sir Arthur Blomfield.

The church was declared Grade I listed in 1966.[3] Since 2008,[5] the ecclesiastical parish forms part of the benefice of St Bartholomew, a group of six parishes.[6]

St Mary's had a chapelry at Hindon from the 13th century. Hindon became a separate vicarage in 1869.[7]

Notable rectors

Christopher Wren (1589–1658) was rector of East Knoyle from 1623.[8][9] He married Mary Cox, daughter of Richard Cox of Fonthill Bishop. Their children were all born at the parsonage house, including in 1632 Christopher, who would become a prominent architect. After Christopher senior was appointed Dean of Windsor in 1635, the family spent part of each year there.[10]

References
  1. Baggs, A.P.; Freeman, Jane; Stevenson, Janet H (1980). Crowley, D.A. (ed.). "Victoria County History – Wiltshire – Vol 11 pp82-103 – Parishes: East Knoyle". British History Online. University of London. Retrieved 5 August 2016.
  2. Pevsner, Nikolaus; Cherry, Bridget (revision) (1975) [1963]. Wiltshire. The Buildings of England (2nd ed.). Harmondsworth: Penguin Books. pp. 231–232. ISBN 0-14-0710-26-4.
  3. Historic England. "Church of St Mary (1131168)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
  4. "East Knoyle, St Mary". Dove's Guide for Church Bell Ringers. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
  5. "Parish Plan" (PDF). East Knoyle Parish Council. December 2008. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
  6. "Benefice of St Bartholomew". Retrieved 6 August 2016.
  7. "No. 23509". The London Gazette. 22 June 1869. pp. 3544–3545.
  8. "Christopher Wren (WRN620C)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
  9. Wren, C. (1750). Parentalia Or Memoirs of the Family of the Wrens Viz. of Mathew Bishop of Ely, Christopher Dean of Windsor ... But Chiefly of --- Surveyor-general of the Royal Buildings ... Now Published by Stephen Wren. Osborn. p. 135. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
  10. Kerry Downes: "Wren, Sir Christopher", in Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Oxford, 2004). Retrieved 10 March 2022.

51°04′26″N 2°10′21″W

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