Religious Buildings

The building is ‘listed’ with dates ranging through the 13th, 14th and late 15th centuries. The following extracts from previous researchers give some idea of the physical fortunes of the actual building:

‘The original building was Norman, and some remains of it still exist, but it is possible that a wooden church built by the Saxons, who founded the village, stood on the present site. The church however was rebuilt in the 15th century, when the Perpendicular style of architecture prevailed. The framework of the priests’ door, leading into the chantry chapel, is a relic of the original Norman church. It was found in fragments in the south wall when the fabric was restored in 1863–4, and Mr Wyatt, the architect, reconstructed it and placed it where it now stands.’

R.C.C.C
1928

‘In 1267, the first mention of a church building in Fovant is contained in the will of Robert de Careville, treasurer of Sarum, which says ‘ … to supplying a deficit in the church at Fofunt, 20 solidos – to the poor of the same parish, 20 solidos’. A list of Fovant incumbents from 1305, starting with the Norman-sounding name Rob. de Hulcott, indicates that a Christian church existed in the village at this time.’

From the Clay Papers

‘The most important monument in the Church is a small monumental brass on the North wall of the chancel which records that George Rede, Rector of Fovant, was responsible for the building of the tower in 1495. A copy is available for brass rubbing.’

John Eade

‘Pray for the soul of the late George Rede sometime Rector of the Church of Fovant at that very year of the building of the new tower In the year of Our Lord 1495. On whose soul may God have mercy. Amen.’

Translation of the Latin

‘The south aisle is said to have been built or re-built by Lady Cicely Bodenham, last Abbess of Wilton … in 1534 she was promoted to be Abbess of Wilton …There is a belief that she was selected as abbess because she was a person who would give but little if any, opposition to the surrender of the temporalities of the convent to the Crown … and they were quietly given up on the 25th March 1539 … There is a tradition that the Lady Cicely and some of her nuns [then] went to Fovant to live.’

W.L. from a historical sketch of Fovant printed in the Salisbury Journal – 1886

At the Quarter Session Held in New Sarum on the 9th January 1654 the Minister and Churchwardens Of Fovant presented a plea for help to the Justices of the Peace:

‘ … that whereas the parish church of Fovant has for a long time been decaying for want of due and timely repair and is now in our apprehensions in so dangerous a condition that unless the sudden provision be made for the support of it we have just reason to fear least a great part of it may fall down … some small matters according to the present necessity have been done already in removing the Pulpit and reading seat from a place of danger wherein they stood, to another place more secure…’

From the Clay Papers

‘The present Church is based on a Norman structure. Some remains of this Norman building still exist …built of the local Chilmark stone…the exterior is in the Perpendicular Style and largely dates from the fifteenth century changes when the Tower and South Aisle were added… In 1863 the Church was extensively altered, particularly the interior, under the direction of Thomas Henry Wyatt, who was then consultant architect for churches in the Salisbury diocese… the battlements having been seriously damaged by the hurricane which swept across the South of England in October 1987, parts of the frieze were replaced by Salisbury Cathedral stonemasons, still using Chilmark stone.’

John Eade – March 1992

Our Church having survived many changes over the centuries continues to play an important part in the life of the village today.

J.O.H.
2006

The Chapel

The Chapel was officially opened in November 1820 by the Rev. Wm. Jay of Bath, having been founded in 1815 by a group of local people known as ‘Dissenters’, who began meeting for prayer and worship in Vine Cottage, a house on the opposite side of the High Street to the present building.

Construction of the Chapel is of local stone with a roof of Welsh slate. Originally the floor area was of bricks laid directly on to Greensand. Downstairs seated about 60 people, with a balcony on the rear and side walls seating another 50. During the 1870s the side balconies were removed and a new wooden floor placed over the original bricks.

In more recent years a small kitchen and toilet have been provided and the original pews have been replaced by a mixture of pews and chairs.

D.G.S.
2003

Content last updated
16 October 2008

© 2002 Design - dingo web design. Text - Fovant History Interest Group

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