St Giles' Church, Imber facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Giles' Church |
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| Location | Imber, Wiltshire, England |
| Built | late 13th century |
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Listed Building – Grade I
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| Designated | 11 December 1987 |
| Reference no. | 313552 |
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St Giles' Church is a very old church located in the quiet, deserted village of Imber, in Wiltshire, England. Since 1943, this village has been part of a special training area for the British Army called Salisbury Plain. The church itself was built a long, long time ago, in the late 1200s or early 1300s. It's considered a very important historical building, known as a Grade I listed building. Today, it's looked after by the Churches Conservation Trust, an organization that cares for old churches that are no longer used for regular services. Because it's inside a military training area, it's usually very hard for people to visit St Giles' Church.
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What is the History of St Giles' Church?
The church you see today was built with strong limestone in the late 1200s. It replaced an even older church that had been there since the 1100s. In the 1300s, the tall tower with its five pointy tops, called pinnacles, was added. The north and south aisles, which are parts of the church on either side of the main area, were also built around this time. Many years later, in the 1800s, the church was greatly rebuilt and repaired.
Inside, St Giles' Church no longer has its original seats or other old furniture. However, you can still see parts of medieval paintings on the walls. There's even a special set of 17th-century instructions for bell ringing painted on the north wall of the tower.
Why is Imber Village Deserted?
The village of Imber is part of the British Army's training grounds on Salisbury Plain. During the Second World War in 1943, all the people living in Imber were asked to leave their homes. This was so American troops could use the area to practice for the invasion of Europe. After the war ended, the villagers were not allowed to move back.
Because of this, many things from the church were moved to other places. For example, the font (a basin used for baptisms) went to Brixton Deverill. The pulpit (where the priest gives sermons) moved to Winterbourne Stoke. The church seats, a bell, and two statues were taken to Edington Priory. Even though people have tried to move back, the village is still controlled by the Ministry of Defence, which is the government department in charge of the military.
Unlike the rest of the village, St Giles' Church and its graveyard stayed under the care of the Diocese of Salisbury, which is part of the Church of England. But even so, the military still controls when people can visit the church and its graveyard. Non-military visitors can only go there a few days each year.
How Was St Giles' Church Restored?
By 2001, St Giles' Church needed a lot of repairs. Since the local church group couldn't easily get to the church to look after it, they asked for it to be declared a redundant church. This means it would no longer be used for regular services and would be cared for by a special organization. In 2005, the church was officially handed over to the Churches Conservation Trust.
During this time, in 2003, lightning struck the church tower, making it weaker. Restoration work began in 2008. After the repairs were finished, the church was strong again. The special annual church service, which is allowed by the military, started again in September 2009. In August 2010, a new set of six bells was put into the tower.
When Can You Visit St Giles' Church?
St Giles' Church and the village of Imber are usually closed to the public. However, on certain days, the Ministry of Defence allows people to visit. These "open days" often happen around Easter and in August. Sometimes, special events like music performances are held there too. It's very important to remember that visiting the church and village is strictly forbidden at all other times.
Even though the village is deserted, some former residents have been buried in the churchyard. For example, in 2023, a man named Ray Nash, whose family left the village in 1936, was buried there. The report said that the funeral before his had taken place ten years earlier.
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