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All Saints Church, Alton Priors facts for kids

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All Saints Church
Native name Church of All Saints
All Saints Alton Priors.jpg
Location Alton Priors, Wiltshire, England
Built 12th century
Website Churches Conservation Trust
Listed Building – Grade II*
Designated 27 May 1964
Reference no. 311642
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All Saints Church in Alton Priors, Wiltshire, England, dates from the 12th century. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II* listed building, and is now 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 1491, landowner John Button bequeathed lead to roof part of the church. In the 18th century the nave, two-stage west tower and chancel were all replaced. The church contains Jacobean stall fronts and on the north side of the chancel a 16th-century tomb-chest surmounted by a monumental brass commemorates landowner William Button (died 1591), great-grandson of John.

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.

Alton Priors was anciently a chapelry of Overton (now West Overton), its church being some five miles south of Overton church by road. In 1913, Alton Priors was detached from Overton vicarage and attached to the adjacent rectory of Alton Barnes.

The church is no longer used on a regular basis, with three services a year being held, as of 2011.

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