Church of St. Mary, Broughton Gifford
The chapel of Broughton, with its lands and tithes, was given to the Abbey of Shaftesbury by Gundrada, the daughter of William the Conqueror. In 1539 it was transferred to the Crown. The earlier chapel existed until 1341 when the existing church was built and this may contain remains of that earlier chapel. It is constructed of rubble stone and limestone ashlar with a stone slate roof. The nave, chancel and north aisle date from the 13th century, whilst the chantry chapel dates from the 14th century. The chantry chapel has an unusual curved recess in the east wall over the altar, to the north of which is a hagioscope or squint and the remains of stairs leading to the rood loft.
The porch originally had a wooden ceiling above the doorway, forming a second storey and the stone stairway leading to it from the west wall, still remains. To the right of the altar is a small piscina for the washing of vessels used during communion, and another exists to the right of the altar in the chantry chapel. The porch, tower and belfry were added in the 15th century when it was extensively re-modelled, resulting in a church of the Perpendicular period. The north wall was rebuilt, the windows replaced and the building was re-roofed. It was valued at £10 in 1292 and £20. 8 shillings in 1535.
The porch originally had a wooden ceiling above the doorway, forming a second storey and the stone stairway leading to it from the west wall, still remains. To the right of the altar is a small piscina for the washing of vessels used during communion, and another exists to the right of the altar in the chantry chapel. The porch, tower and belfry were added in the 15th century when it was extensively re-modelled, resulting in a church of the Perpendicular period. The north wall was rebuilt, the windows replaced and the building was re-roofed. It was valued at £10 in 1292 and £20. 8 shillings in 1535.
In 1708 the gallery was built and in 1720 the open roofs were covered with plaster ceilings. By 1850 extensive renovations had been carried out including strengthening of the walls and pillars, removal of the gallery, the high box pews were replaced with benches and the ceilings stripped to reveal the rafters. By 1878 the nave was re-roofed and the north aisle extended for the organ. This work was under the direction of Reverend John Wilkinson and carried out by G. G. Scott at a cost of £321.
1920 saw the addition of a carved oak screen by David Burry and in 1930 electricity was installed. The 13th century cylindrical font bowl is housed in the tower and some fragments of medieval stained glass remain in the north east aisle window. At the base of the entrance to the vestry is an iron ring, where people could tie up their horses before the construction of the tower, at the old west door. In the churchyard, to the right of the lych gate, are the remains of the ancient market cross. This was damaged extensively by Cromwell's troops when it was situated at the end of Mill Lane.
Monuments in Lady chapel include a scrolled pedimented tablet to Henry Harding who died in 1774, and classical marble tablets to Isaac Dark who died in1818, Stephen Dark who died in 1815 and to William Curtis who died in 1806.
1920 saw the addition of a carved oak screen by David Burry and in 1930 electricity was installed. The 13th century cylindrical font bowl is housed in the tower and some fragments of medieval stained glass remain in the north east aisle window. At the base of the entrance to the vestry is an iron ring, where people could tie up their horses before the construction of the tower, at the old west door. In the churchyard, to the right of the lych gate, are the remains of the ancient market cross. This was damaged extensively by Cromwell's troops when it was situated at the end of Mill Lane.
Monuments in Lady chapel include a scrolled pedimented tablet to Henry Harding who died in 1774, and classical marble tablets to Isaac Dark who died in1818, Stephen Dark who died in 1815 and to William Curtis who died in 1806.
Gifts to the church include an Elizabethan cup from John Horton in 1731, a silver mounted glass flagon from Mrs. Hopkins of Bradford-on-Avon in 1878 and a silver chalice form Mrs. Floyd in 1949.The bells were hung in 1665 but one cracked in 1732. Another bell cracked in 1850 due to a drunken carousel and the present bells were cast later that year.
The church house was built soon after 1500, a piece of land having been given by George, Earl of Shrewsbury, to William Cuffe and others. This was pulled down in 1732 and the materials used to build church farmhouse.
The rectory was built in 1848 by T.H. Wyatt, and is of a seventeenth century gabled style. By 1973 Broughton Gifford church had become a united benefice with Great Chalfield and Holt. The Parish registers are complete from 1665 and can be viewed at the Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre in Chippenham.
The church house was built soon after 1500, a piece of land having been given by George, Earl of Shrewsbury, to William Cuffe and others. This was pulled down in 1732 and the materials used to build church farmhouse.
The rectory was built in 1848 by T.H. Wyatt, and is of a seventeenth century gabled style. By 1973 Broughton Gifford church had become a united benefice with Great Chalfield and Holt. The Parish registers are complete from 1665 and can be viewed at the Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre in Chippenham.