Priory Church, Easton Royal

Stephen of Tisbury, rector of Easton, founded a priory at Easton c.1234. After a dispute with Bradenstoke Priory, referred to the bishop of Salisbury, it was decided in 1237 that the church should be given to Easton Priory. This decision was ratified in 1246 and the church was served from the priory. From 1369, when the parish church of St. Mary was demolished and permission given for the materials to be used to enlarge the priory church, Easton parishioners also worshipped in the priory church, which was held by the priory until its dissolution in 1536. The church was badly damaged, or possibly destroyed by the fire of 1493 but was apparently repaired or rebuilt. In 1532 Henry Brian, the lasr prior of Easton was said to have refused to allow services to be held for parishioners for more than two years .On the dissolution in 1536 it was reported to be in poor condition and had become the parish church with Henry Brian serving as curate.