Church of St. John the Baptist, Berwick St. John

There has been a church on the site of the current church, since the early 13th century, though it was substantially altered in the 1400s, had alterations made in the early 19th century, and was almost completely rebuilt in the 1860s. When the church was restored in the Victorian period, a few stones with Norman mouldings were found; this was the only trace of the original church, or what may be considered the original church. Though this could be an Anglo-Saxon church, of which no structural or documentary evidence remains, the earliest mention of the church building is in 1267, when there was a reference to a need for repairs to the building.

Little is known about the original building, except that it was built of stone; like other churches of the medieval period, though, it is likely that there would have been no furniture except for a font near the entrance, no seats in the nave, an embroidered cloth on the altar, and the windows would have merely been gaps in the stone, covered in canvas (glass wasn’t introduced until the late 13th century); the walls would have been covered in bright paintings and murals. Although these have mostly been lost, traces were found during the 1861 restoration. The pattern of the west and south transept windows can be seen - the only remaining visible medieval feature remaining in the church.

In the late 15th century the church underwent major alterations; the upper story of the tower was repaired with ornamental battlements and gargoyles, intended to throw off rainwater, were added. The ceiling inside was broken up into squares with beams that were highly decorated. Each crossing was decorated with various items, including heraldic designs, Tudor roses, and the arms of the Willoughby family, thought to be the family responsible for the renovation, the Hungerford arms, and other such designs, all highly coloured, and all highly decorative.

The church remained mostly the same for several centuries, suffering from disrepair in the latter 16th and 17th centuries, and was altered sometime before 1827, when it was recorded that there were galleries on the north, south and west walls of the nave; however not all changes were beneficial. The font, comprising a 14th century hexagonal base and 18th century bowl was removed, but badly broken, and nothing more is known about it.

In the 1860s, specifically between 1860 and1862, there were many major changes made to the church. The tower was rebuilt entirely, mostly in the same style, but was made 16 feet higher, so as to contain a bell-ringing chamber; the bells previously having been rung from within the church proper. The west wall of the nave was taken down and extended somewhere between five and sixteen feet westwards, and most of the other walls of the church were rebuilt, mostly in ashlar. The church building was enlarged, by removing the former vestry at the north door, and adding north and south vestries; to further open up space in the building the galleries were removed. The pews and all other fittings were completely replaced. Finally, a heating system was installed, requiring a vault under the chancel to be excavated creating space for the boiler. The building has remained mostly the same, with the exception of electric lighting being introduced in 1936 and an electrical heating system added in1987.


There were four bells in 1553, with this arrangement remaining until the mid 18th century, when three were recast into five by R. Wells of Aldbourne. One of them was recast and a sixth, by John Warner & Sons, was added in 1855. The six bells remain in the church.

During the history of the church, the rectory was valued as one of the richest livings in the Chalke Deanery. In 1291, it was valued at £20. In the early 19th century, the average income was around £500 or more - a fortune in that period.

The majority of the rectors of the church were unremarkable - or they were good men, unnoticed due to a lack of anything particularly noteworthy. There were some, though, who were disgraced due to their actions, and behaviour. Peter of Lyme, in 1315, was removed from the duty of rector due to not becoming ordained within a year of admission. Robert Pinkney was accused, in 1584, of hunting, playing bowls, and causing quarrels among his parishioners. In 1585 Pinkney was presented for not catechizing or wearing a surplice, but church services were said to be more orderly than they had been.

Another was Compton South, rector from 1657 to 1662 including the turbulent period of the Restoration. He refused to use the Book of Common Prayer, the book that was used across the country - he also refused to wear a surplice. Additionally, there was no communion table, and it was noted that there was ill discipline; there was violent behaviour, kicking and pulling in church. He was eventually removed from his position, after an inquisition.

The parish registers from 1560, other than those in current use, are held in the Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre.