All Saints Church, Alton Priors

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,[1] and is now in the care of The Churches Conservation Trust.[2] It was declared redundant on 28 July 1972, and was vested in the Trust on 12 December 1973.[3]

All Saints Church
Native name
Church of All Saints
LocationAlton Priors, Wiltshire, England
Coordinates51°21′29″N 1°50′40″W
Built12th century
WebsiteChurches Conservation Trust
Listed Building – Grade II*
Designated27 May 1964[1]
Reference no.311642
Location of All Saints Church in Wiltshire

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.[4] In the 18th century the nave, two-stage west tower and chancel were all replaced.[1] 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.[2][4][5][6]

The presence in the floor of the church of trapdoors giving access to Sarsen stones,[7] and the presence of the 1,700-year-old Yew tree in the churchyard,[5] suggest it was a sacred site long before the church was built.

Alton Priors was anciently a chapelry of Overton (now West Overton),[4] its church being some five miles south of Overton church by road.[8] In 1913, Alton Priors was detached from Overton vicarage and attached to the adjacent rectory of Alton Barnes.[8]

The church is no longer used on a regular basis, with three services a year being held, as of 2011.[5]

See also

References
  1. Historic England, "Church of All Saints, Alton (1364710)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 27 June 2013
  2. All Saints, Alton Priors, Churches Conservation Trust, retrieved 31 March 2011
  3. Diocese of Salisbury: All Schemes (PDF), Church Commissioners/Statistics, Church of England, 2011, p. 1, retrieved 31 March 2011
  4. D A Crowley, ed. (1980), "Parishes: Overton", A History of the County of Wiltshire: Downton Hundred; Elstub and Everleigh Hundred, 11, London, pp. 181–203, retrieved 14 November 2016
  5. "All Saints, Alton Priors". The Vale of Pewsey Team. Archived from the original on 4 October 2011. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
  6. Analysis of and speculation about the memorial plaque to William Button can be found here "The mystery plaque of Alton priors". Crop circle wisdom. Archived from the original on 6 October 2010. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
  7. "All Saints (Alton Priors)". Megalithic Portal. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
  8. "No. 28728". The London Gazette. 13 June 1913. pp. 4208–4211.
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