Church of St. Mary, Homington, Coombe Bissett
This church is of 14th century date but appears to have Saxon origins; at the taxation of Pope Nicholas in 1291 the church was rated at £5.
St. Mary’s has a 17th century square embattled turret with a low roof and two small aisles. The aisles of the west end are windowless and the south aisle has been blocked. There is an early 14th century south arcade and a Tudor archway can be found to the west. A plain piscina can be found on the south wall of the chancel and another on the east wall of the north aisle. This has late 14th century ogee detail. The nave has a four bay arched brace tie beam roof.
A 7oz chalice was kept for the parish; two and a half ounces were taken for the King’s use, presumably during the Reformation. The font is plain in style.
St. Mary’s has a 17th century square embattled turret with a low roof and two small aisles. The aisles of the west end are windowless and the south aisle has been blocked. There is an early 14th century south arcade and a Tudor archway can be found to the west. A plain piscina can be found on the south wall of the chancel and another on the east wall of the north aisle. This has late 14th century ogee detail. The nave has a four bay arched brace tie beam roof.
A 7oz chalice was kept for the parish; two and a half ounces were taken for the King’s use, presumably during the Reformation. The font is plain in style.
Old glass, pews, the lead of the three broken bells and other materials were used to finance the repair the church in 1794. The amount raised upon the sale of the items was £140. The old porch on the north side was taken down and an entrance made in the west end with a new gravel path constructed to lead up to it. The old porch was filled in with a new Gothic window. At this time the roof was raised and the roof tiles replaced. The church was also whitewashed and the casements wired to keep out the birds. The gallery and font were removed from the west end and a new access to the tower was provided. New pews were put into the aisles and the west end; the nave was paved. Before the repairs took place the church was described as damp, cold and dark. It was noted on the 12th day of October, 1796 that “Since, it is very light, warm, dry and much more frequented”. The church was restored further in the 1860s.
The pulpit, reading desk and clerk’s seat were a donation from the Earl of Radnor. This donation also included a piece of ground to improve the entrance into the church. The Rector’s pew had been moved to accommodate the changes made to the east window and chancel, and the Earl gave up his pew for the Rector.
The parish registers, other than those in current use, from 1675, with an hiatus in the mid 18th century, are held in the Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre in Chippenham.
The pulpit, reading desk and clerk’s seat were a donation from the Earl of Radnor. This donation also included a piece of ground to improve the entrance into the church. The Rector’s pew had been moved to accommodate the changes made to the east window and chancel, and the Earl gave up his pew for the Rector.
The parish registers, other than those in current use, from 1675, with an hiatus in the mid 18th century, are held in the Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre in Chippenham.