All Saints Church, Alton Priors
Encyclopedia
All Saints Church in Alton Priors, Wiltshire
, England, dates from the 12th century. It has been designated by English Heritage
as a Grade II* listed building, and is now a redundant church
in the care of the Churches Conservation Trust
. It was declared redundant on 28 July 1972, and was vested
in the Trust on 12 December 1973.
The church was built of limestone and malmstone rubble in the 12th century, but has undergone several major refurbishments since. In the 18th century the nave
, 2 stage west tower and chancel
were all replaced. The church contains Jacobean
stall fronts and a 16th century tomb-chest and memorial.
The presence in the floor of the church of trapdoors giving access to Sarsen
stones, and the presence of the 1,700 year old Yew tree in the churchyard, suggest it was a sacred site long before the church was built. There is also an unusual brass plaque to local landowner William Button, with a complex inscription. It has been speculated that the message on the plaque, and Sarsen stones may be connected with the nearby Milk Hill
.
The church is no longer used on a regular basis with three services a year being held.
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
, England, dates from the 12th century. It has been designated by English Heritage
English Heritage
English Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
as a Grade II* listed building, and is now a redundant church
Redundant church
A redundant church is a church building that is no longer required for regular public worship. The phrase is particularly used to refer to former Anglican buildings in the United Kingdom, but may refer to any disused church building around the world...
in the care of the Churches Conservation Trust
Churches Conservation Trust
The Churches Conservation Trust, which was initially known as the Redundant Churches Fund, is a charity whose purpose is to protect historic churches at risk, those that have been made redundant by the Church of England. The Trust was established by the Pastoral Measure of 1968...
. It was declared redundant on 28 July 1972, and was vested
Vesting
In law, vesting is to give an immediately secured right of present or future enjoyment. One has a vested right to an asset that cannot be taken away by any third party, even though one may not yet possess the asset. When the right, interest or title to the present or future possession of a legal...
in the Trust on 12 December 1973.
The church was built of limestone and malmstone rubble in the 12th century, but has undergone several major refurbishments since. In the 18th century the nave
Nave
In Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar, the main body of the church. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...
, 2 stage west tower and chancel
Chancel
In church architecture, the chancel is the space around the altar in the sanctuary at the liturgical east end of a traditional Christian church building...
were all replaced. The church contains Jacobean
Jacobean
Jacobean indicates the period of English history that coincides with the reign of James I of England :*Jacobean era*Jacobean architecture*Jacobean literature*Jacobean English...
stall fronts and a 16th century tomb-chest and memorial.
The presence in the floor of the church of trapdoors giving access to Sarsen
Sarsen
Sarsen stones are sandstone blocks found in quantity in the United Kingdom on Salisbury Plain, the Marlborough Downs, in Kent, and in smaller quantities in Berkshire, Essex, Oxfordshire, Dorset and Hampshire...
stones, and the presence of the 1,700 year old Yew tree in the churchyard, suggest it was a sacred site long before the church was built. There is also an unusual brass plaque to local landowner William Button, with a complex inscription. It has been speculated that the message on the plaque, and Sarsen stones may be connected with the nearby Milk Hill
Milk Hill
Milk Hill, located near Alton Priors east of Devizes, is the highest point in the county of Wiltshire, southwest England, at some 295 m / 968 ft above sea level...
.
The church is no longer used on a regular basis with three services a year being held.