A church at Westbury was mentioned in the Domesday Book (1086). It is most likely to have been a Saxon wooden church on the same site as the present one. The first stone church was built by the Normans, probably around 1220, and this seems to have been replaced by the 14th century church using the Norman cruciform plan. The most likely date for this church is 1340-1380 in the transitional period between the Decorated and Perpendicular styles. William of Grimstead endowed a chantry in 1341. The parts of this building that remain are the nave and aisles, the transepts, probably the base of the tower and the window to the west of a small door in the Lady Chapel.

 There was extensive rebuilding in the 15th century and other features are Perpendicular. The nave was heightened and a clerestory added, three chapels were added and the tower was raised to 84 feet (about 25 metres) by adding a second stage. The north aisle chapel was built by William of Westbury and his father John, who endowed a chantry in 1437, while the south chancel chapel is the Lady Chapel, later known as the Willoughby de Broke Chapel or Phipps Chapel.

In the first half of the 16th century the south porch was built, or rebuilt with a small room over it. The chancel was extended eastwards to its present length in the middle of the 16th century. The Church is in a very pleasant situation, being in a close in the centre of the town surrounded by 18th century cottages. The church itself underwent an extensive restoration in 1847 owing to the energies of the Rev. Stafford Brown. The nave roof was renewed, a new west window created, the east wall of the chancel buttressed and the gallery removed. At the same time an extra 285 free sittings were made. In 1857 a new burial ground (now West Wilts District Council owned) on the road to Bratton was purchased and in 1880 a new vicarage was built on the site of an earlier one. In 1948 the roof of the south chancel chapel was repaired.

The tower walls are four foot thick. The stair turret on the North-West corner runs the whole height of the tower. There used to be three rooms in the tower: a ringing chamber, a belfry, and another room above with a fireplace, probably for the use of a watchman whose duty it would have been to overlook the town at night and give warning in case of fire, and to call the hours as they passed. The floor of this room was removed in 1921, leaving a platform running along the North wall of the tower on which rests a small bell. This is known as the "Kit" bell and was rung for five minutes before a service. This tradition has now ended, possibly during the extensive restoration that took place during 1968/69.

The date of 1673 and the initials E.P. and R.G. are carved on one of the tower roof timbers, so it seems likely that some of the timbers were repaired or replaced at this time. Alternatively they could be graffiti, of which there is more on the tower walls.

The oldest bell was given to the church by Sir James Ley of Heywood in 1616 and was inscribed on the waist with the arms of England and France quartered with Scotland and Ireland, and the words "Drawe Neare to God RP Anno Domini 1616" Other bells were added in 1620, 1671, 1741 and 1738.

In 1920 the ancient oak frame, no longer safe, was removed and replaced with a new iron and steel frame which was installed in 1921. At the same time the six old bells were recast by John Taylor & Co. of Loughborough, all the ancient inscriptions being reproduced on the recast bells. Two new small bells were added and the peal is now the third heaviest peal of eight in the world Sherborne being the heaviest and Adelaide Cathedral in Australia the second. The tenor bell weighs just over 35cwt.

The church clock dates to the beginning of the 17th century and is unusual in having no face although it strikes the hours and quarters. It was made by a local blacksmith and has to be wound every day. There is an impressive sundial over the outer door of the South porch, which was put in position in 1821. It is one of the largest in the country, and has an inscription which reads: "Like to the hour of the Day, our time and Life soon pass away". Two "scratch" dials (crude, shallow incised sundials with a centre hole for a wooden or metal Gnomon) are recorded as being on a buttress just East of the South door. However, these have eroded away. The parish registers date from 1556 and, other than those in current use, are held in the Wiltshire and Swindon Record Office.

Acoustically, the church is very good. The high, vaulted ceiling makes for good sound propagation.  The location of the organ used to cause problems because it was partially blocked from the congregation by the tower stairway. In 2001 the organ was due for a major overhaul. In order to do this, it had to be dismantled. Rev Richardson took this opportunity to move the organ one archway closer to the congregation, noticeably improving the sound reproduction. In response to the movement of the organ, the alter and choir's seating has also moved closer to the Great West Window. All Saints Church is notable for the quality of its choir. It is said to be on a par with that of Salisbury Cathedral, even though the choir numbers only sixteen. If you think you have what it takes to join this elite group, they practice on Thursday evenings.

All Saints is a Church of England, its traditional sermons are given to a congregation of up to one hundred and fifty over the three services each Sunday. The church can seat two hundred and sixty people, making it a good size for the fifteen or so weddings, fifty christenings, and fifty funerals per year. When I asked Paul about the disparity between the weddings and the funerals he commented that the the population was disproportionately biased toward the young and the old, with people living in Westbury as a singleton then marrying and moving away for work. He also noted that the popularity of 'stately home civil ceremonies' has had an impact on church weddings.

All Saints, in conjunction with the Methodist and United Reformed Churches, provide a monthly magazine entitled 'The Christian Way'. It's a well balanced mix of news, religious thoughts and comments, light hearted articles, and local ads. Currently, the magazine is only available in paper form, but plans are being moved forward for the church to have an active internet presence. If you live locally, and would like to receive the magazine, please contact John Prince (editor) on 859450 or email admin@whitehorseteam.org.

Church Restoration

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