Church of St. Mary, Wingfield
The Church of St. Mary is south east of the village. It is built in the Perpendicular style, and has a chancel, nave, west tower, south porch and vestry. It is first mentioned in 1313 when it was under the Abbot and Convent of Keynsham. The present building is mainly 17th century, apart from the 15th century tower and chancel arch and was restored in the 18th century. It is built of dressed limestone and ashlar with a stone slate nave roof and a Welsh slate chancel roof. All of the windows are 17th century apart from a modern east window. A north sided vestry is a later addition and houses the organ which is first referred to in 1898.
The church plate includes a paten from John Bayley, and a paten and flagon given in 1749 by Martha Parker. Three bells date from 1553, 1607 and 1617.
The nave was renewed in 1844 and the north transept added in 1861 and the church seats 190 people.
Church repairs over the years include tiling and mending the ceiling in 1717-1718, white washing the church in 1742, making a new road to the church in 1780, providing a hot air stove in 1841, and renewal of pews in 1844. The churchyard was enlarged towards the end of the 19th century and in 1900 a new hot air system was introduced for heating.
The church plate includes a paten from John Bayley, and a paten and flagon given in 1749 by Martha Parker. Three bells date from 1553, 1607 and 1617.
The nave was renewed in 1844 and the north transept added in 1861 and the church seats 190 people.
Church repairs over the years include tiling and mending the ceiling in 1717-1718, white washing the church in 1742, making a new road to the church in 1780, providing a hot air stove in 1841, and renewal of pews in 1844. The churchyard was enlarged towards the end of the 19th century and in 1900 a new hot air system was introduced for heating.
There are monuments to John Bayley, 1665, and two former rectors; Rev. Edward Spencer, 1819, and Rev. Edward Meade, 1887. The east window is dedicated to Rev. Meade and the clock in front of the gallery was presented by Edward Caillard in 1908.
The Parish Registers date back to 1654 and can be viewed, apart from those in current use, at the Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre in Chippenham.
The rectory was not used for residential purposes in the 18th century, but in 1797 was improved by Rev. Spencer for his own use. He used it for entertaining and supporting the poor and for education purposes. In the late 18th century there was no inn in the village so perhaps the building provided a kind of social centre. By 1800 he was running a private school, helped by Miss Spencer, and attended by 30 pupils. Improvements, including a west facing extension and steps leading to the new schoolroom meant that it could be used also for Sunday school and religious meetings. Rev Spencer was at Wingfield for 45 years until his death, and during that period he did a great deal of good for the local community including improvements to the church, and the building of the baptistery as well as the school. Many gifts were given to support the poor. The rectory came into private ownership in 1969.
The Parish Registers date back to 1654 and can be viewed, apart from those in current use, at the Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre in Chippenham.
The rectory was not used for residential purposes in the 18th century, but in 1797 was improved by Rev. Spencer for his own use. He used it for entertaining and supporting the poor and for education purposes. In the late 18th century there was no inn in the village so perhaps the building provided a kind of social centre. By 1800 he was running a private school, helped by Miss Spencer, and attended by 30 pupils. Improvements, including a west facing extension and steps leading to the new schoolroom meant that it could be used also for Sunday school and religious meetings. Rev Spencer was at Wingfield for 45 years until his death, and during that period he did a great deal of good for the local community including improvements to the church, and the building of the baptistery as well as the school. Many gifts were given to support the poor. The rectory came into private ownership in 1969.