St John the Baptist's Church, Allington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St John the Baptist's Church, Allington |
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St John the Baptist's Church, Allington, from the southeast
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| OS grid reference | SU 204 394 |
| Location | Allington, Wiltshire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Dedication | Saint John the Baptist |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Redundant |
| Heritage designation | Grade II |
| Designated | 10 February 1958 |
| Architect(s) | Fr William Grey |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Norman, Gothic Revival |
| Completed | 1851 |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Flint and limestone Tiled roofs |
St John the Baptist's Church is a historic church located in the village of Allington, Wiltshire, England. It's near Amesbury. This church was rebuilt in 1851. It used to be an Anglican parish church, but it's now 'redundant'. This means it's no longer used for regular church services. It's protected as a Grade II listed building, which means it's an important historical structure. Since 2011, the Friends of Friendless Churches have taken care of it.
Contents
What is the History of Allington Church?
How Old is the Church Building?
The very first parts of St John the Baptist's Church were built in the 12th century. That's over 800 years ago! Only small pieces of this original building remain today. You can see some old stone in the arch of the chancel. There's also a piece of a Norman doorway. This old stone was moved to the north wall during later building work.
When Was the Church Rebuilt?
Most of the church was rebuilt between 1847 and 1851. The architect was a priest named Fr William Grey. He made sure the new building looked very similar to the church from the 13th century. One big change was replacing the old wooden bell tower with a stronger stone one.
What Happened to the Church Later?
In 1924, Allington church joined with the church in Boscombe. Then, in 1970, the two church areas became one. Allington church stopped being used for regular services on February 1, 2010. The next year, the Friends of Friendless Churches took over its care.
What Does Allington Church Look Like?
The Outside of the Church
The church is built with flint and limestone. These are strong, natural stones. The roof is made of tiles. The church has a main hall called a nave and a smaller section called a chancel. There's also a porch on the south side that goes up into a tower.
The tower has two levels and a pointed tiled roof. At the top, there are openings for bells and a crenellated top with gargoyles. The nave has doors on both the north and south sides. The north door has those old Norman stone pieces. The sides of the nave have windows with two or three lights. The chancel has two older windows from the late 12th or early 13th century. There's also a large window at the east end.
The Inside of the Church
Inside the church, the walls of the nave are smooth and painted. The ceiling is a curved 'wagon roof' from the 19th century. The chancel has beautiful patterns and designs painted on its walls. These were added in 1876 by a company called Heaton, Butler and Bayne. They were a tribute to Revd Fulwar William Fowle, who was the church's rector for over 60 years.
The floor of the chancel is covered with decorative tiles. You can also see a sedilia (seats for priests) and a piscina (a basin for washing sacred vessels). The stained glass in the east window shows the Crucifixion. It was also made by Heaton, Butler and Bayne.
The font (where baptisms happen) is from the 19th century. It looks just like the original 12th-century one. Its special pyramid-shaped cover is from the 17th century. The pulpit (where sermons are given) is made of oak and is from the 19th century. There are also two old pews from the 16th or 17th century. Other pews were made later to match them. In the porch, there's an old oak chest with three locks. It's from the 16th or 17th century and was used by the churchwardens. There's also a stool from the 17th century.
What is in the Churchyard?
The churchyard also has some interesting old structures. Two stone coffin tombs from the 18th century are there. One has the date 1728 carved on it. The other date is hard to read. There are also two chest tombs from the early 19th century. These are also protected as Grade II listed structures.
Does Allington Church Have a Famous Connection?
Yes, it does! A vicar of this church, Revd Thomas Fowle, lived here between 1793 and 1797. He was engaged to Cassandra Austen, who was the sister of the famous writer Jane Austen. Sadly, Revd Fowle died before they could get married. He passed away from yellow fever in the West Indies. He was trying to earn enough money there so they could marry.
