All Saints Church, Alton Priors

All Saints Church
Native name Church of All Saints
Location Alton Priors, Wiltshire, England
Coordinates 51°21′29″N 1°50′40″W / 51.35806°N 1.84444°W / 51.35806; -1.84444Coordinates: 51°21′29″N 1°50′40″W / 51.35806°N 1.84444°W / 51.35806; -1.84444
Built 12th century
Listed Building – Grade II*
Designated 27 May 1964[1]
Reference no. 311642
Location of All Saints Church in Wiltshire

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 a redundant church 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]

The church was built of limestone and malmstone rubble in the 12th century, but has undergone several major refurbishments since. In the 18th century the nave, 2 stage west tower and chancel were all replaced.[1] The church contains Jacobean stall fronts and a 16th-century tomb-chest and memorial.[2][4]

The presence in the floor of the church of trapdoors giving access to Sarsen stones,[5] and the presence of the 1,700-year-old Yew tree in the churchyard,[4] suggest it was a sacred site long before the church was built. There is also an unusual brass plaque to local landowner William Button, with a complex inscription. It has been speculated that the message on the plaque, and Sarsen stones may be connected with the nearby Milk Hill.[6]

The church is no longer used on a regular basis with three services a year being held.[4]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Historic England, "Church of All Saints, Alton (1364710)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 27 June 2013
  2. 1 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. 1 2 3 "All Saints, Alton Priors". The Vale of Pewsey Team. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
  5. ↑ "All Saints (Alton Priors)". Megalithic Portal. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
  6. ↑ "The mystery plaque of Alton priors". Crop circle wisdom. Archived from the original on 6 October 2010. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
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