New Church of St. Mary the Virgin, West Dean
The new church of St. Mary the Virgin was consecrated by the Bishop of Salisbury on April 3rd 1866. The total cost of the building was £2,578 6s 4d, to which Thomas Baring donated £1,000 in addition to the land. The previous rector, George Glossop, provided £500 and other members of his family contributed £340. Other donations, including those of the local MP and the Morrison family of Fonthill House, raised more than £300.
The building was designed by the architects Pownall and Young of Bedford Square, London, but a local builder, John Crook of West Dean, was responsible for its construction. Mr. Crook was also the churchwarden and contributed £25 of his own funds towards the pulpit and other furnishings. The first turf was cut in 1864 and the building completed two years later. It measures 76 feet long and 33½ feet wide, which is very similar in size to the old building. The church is built of flint and red brick, with a bell-turret and an apse.
The building was designed by the architects Pownall and Young of Bedford Square, London, but a local builder, John Crook of West Dean, was responsible for its construction. Mr. Crook was also the churchwarden and contributed £25 of his own funds towards the pulpit and other furnishings. The first turf was cut in 1864 and the building completed two years later. It measures 76 feet long and 33½ feet wide, which is very similar in size to the old building. The church is built of flint and red brick, with a bell-turret and an apse.
The original accounts include details of specific items, such as £60 for the clock, which was paid for by Mr. W.T. Beauchamp, the publican of West Dean. His daughter Bessie later became the church organist. The Rev. Glossop presented an inscribed silver chalice and brass offertory plate which are still in use today, while the font basin, stonework and tiles from the old St Mary’s were incorporated into the new church. The three bells from the previous church were re-hung in the bell tower. The church was built to accommodate 194 people; 144 adults and 50 children in pews each side of the aisle.
Despite the building of the new church, burials continued in the original churchyard until 1896, when the Baring family requested a large burial plot that could not be accommodated in the existing space. Land around the new church was consecrated and in November 1897 William Baring’s wife Elizabeth was the first person to be buried in the new ground.
In the late 19th century the living of West Dean with East Grimstead was a good one, and the Rectory supported a resident housekeeper, daily household servants and gardeners from the village, as well as a head gardener in the adjoining house – now called the West Wing. The Rectory included a Parish Room where parish and vestry meetings were held.
Despite the building of the new church, burials continued in the original churchyard until 1896, when the Baring family requested a large burial plot that could not be accommodated in the existing space. Land around the new church was consecrated and in November 1897 William Baring’s wife Elizabeth was the first person to be buried in the new ground.
In the late 19th century the living of West Dean with East Grimstead was a good one, and the Rectory supported a resident housekeeper, daily household servants and gardeners from the village, as well as a head gardener in the adjoining house – now called the West Wing. The Rectory included a Parish Room where parish and vestry meetings were held.
In the 1920s the living was one of the richest in the area. The total income was £742 plus the house – a considerable amount for a parish of 402 people and double the average clerical income. In the 1930s there were countrywide protests against tithes, which were finally abolished in 1936 and replaced with a system of clergy stipends. In Dean, strict economies had to be made at the Rectory as the annual income was reduced. In 1941 the income was £600.
The parish of West Dean with East Grimstead had its own resident vicar until 1980. In 1981 the parish joined with Farley with Pitton. The rector was given an assistant, a Sarum Reader, who together with his family began the choir and organised village festivals which raised funds for a new organ and the restoration of the bells. In 1991 the group of parishes expanded further to include West Grimstead, Whiteparish and Alderbury and was known as the Alderbury Team. In 2001 Winterslow joined the Team and the group name changed to the Clarendon Team.
The parish registers for West Dean, dating from 1538, can be seen at the Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre in Chippenham (apart from those currently in use at the church).
The parish of West Dean with East Grimstead had its own resident vicar until 1980. In 1981 the parish joined with Farley with Pitton. The rector was given an assistant, a Sarum Reader, who together with his family began the choir and organised village festivals which raised funds for a new organ and the restoration of the bells. In 1991 the group of parishes expanded further to include West Grimstead, Whiteparish and Alderbury and was known as the Alderbury Team. In 2001 Winterslow joined the Team and the group name changed to the Clarendon Team.
The parish registers for West Dean, dating from 1538, can be seen at the Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre in Chippenham (apart from those currently in use at the church).