St Mary's Church, East Knoyle

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

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. 1 2 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 / 51.07400°N 2.17237°W / 51.07400; -2.17237

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