Church of St. John the Baptist, Stockton
The parish church of St John the Baptist is built of ashlar. It contains a chancel with north vestry, a clerestoried nave with two aisles, a north porch and a west tower. The earliest documentary evidence dates the church at c.1160 and the four sturdy Norman pillars in the nave confirm this. It had a nave and two aisles and the roof was probably thatched. Two-thirds of the present tower was built approximately 50 years later.
This church has been altered and rebuilt throughout its lifetime. In the early 14th century both aisles appear to have been widened and the south aisle was rebuilt. This aisle contains the tomb of a lady in 14th century costume who is said to be the foundress of the aisle. It seems likely that this aisle was her chantry before the Reformation. At the same time the division between the nave and chancel was moved several feet to the east, making the nave longer and the chancel smaller. The upper stage of the tower was added.
In the 15th century the north porch and the clerestory were added to the church. This is also the date attributed to the most striking feature in the building, the wall that divides the chancel from the nave. Chancel screens are normally wooden; a solid stone wall with squints is most unusual. Some architectural historians have suggested that this screen is influenced by the Eastern Church. The wall is covered by a screen of carved oak, given in 1909 by Bishop Yeatman-Biggs in memory of his wife and brother.
The east end of the north aisle appears to have been partly rebuilt in the 17th century when the canopied tomb of John and Mary Topp was placed there. The 15th century nave roof was reconstructed in 1757 and renewed in 1958.
Some rebuilding work was carried out in the early 19th century. In 1840 the chancel was partly rebuilt. In 1842 the eastern end of the north aisle was rebuilt and in 1844 the south aisle was restored. The watercolour artist John Buckler visited Stockton in 1804. His paintings of Wiltshire churches are a valuable resource regarding ‘before and after’ restoration. His views of Stockton illustrate how sympathetically the church was restored, as the only significant difference is the north aisle and porch.
The east end of the north aisle appears to have been partly rebuilt in the 17th century when the canopied tomb of John and Mary Topp was placed there. The 15th century nave roof was reconstructed in 1757 and renewed in 1958.
Some rebuilding work was carried out in the early 19th century. In 1840 the chancel was partly rebuilt. In 1842 the eastern end of the north aisle was rebuilt and in 1844 the south aisle was restored. The watercolour artist John Buckler visited Stockton in 1804. His paintings of Wiltshire churches are a valuable resource regarding ‘before and after’ restoration. His views of Stockton illustrate how sympathetically the church was restored, as the only significant difference is the north aisle and porch.
In the early 1820s the church was visited by the antiquarian Sir Richard Colt Hoare from Stourhead. His description of the church is very similar to how we see it today, as the layout was the same. The dimensions of the church are unusual, as the nave and chancel are almost square. The nave is 36 feet 6 inches long by 38 feet wide. The chancel is 16 feet ten inches long by 18 feet 6 inches wide. His description includes that of an unusual custom. While looking around the church, he noticed a faded ribbon hanging from a piece of iron high up on the nave wall. An early custom was to carry a garland decorated with ribbons before the corpse of an unmarried young woman and afterwards suspend it in the church. The custom was revived at the request of a young lady who was buried some 30 years prior to his visit.
Major restoration took place in 1879. The faculty described the church as being in a state of general decay and that the pews and seats were inadequate. There was also ‘an unsightly gallery’ at the west end which was to be removed. The whole building was carefully restored and where possible all the monuments were put back in their original position. The work included repairing and restoring the stonework and strengthening the tower. A new organ chamber was built at the east end between the chancel and south aisle. The north aisle was enlarged and the porch rebuilt. A vestry room was added to the north side of the chancel. The whole church was given new flooring, pews, seats and fittings (the font and pulpit were restored).
The total cost of the restoration was £1,875. When the faculty was drawn up the church had already received £125 in grants and £1,160 in donations. The churchwardens were confident of receiving the remaining £590 in further donations. The population of Stockton in 1871 was 264. The church at that time was able to seat 137 people; after the restoration there was room for 176 people and two thirds of the seats were free.
The total cost of the restoration was £1,875. When the faculty was drawn up the church had already received £125 in grants and £1,160 in donations. The churchwardens were confident of receiving the remaining £590 in further donations. The population of Stockton in 1871 was 264. The church at that time was able to seat 137 people; after the restoration there was room for 176 people and two thirds of the seats were free.
Stockton church is full of memorial stones on its walls and impressive tombs. John Topp the Elder’s family were tenants in the village before the Reformation. In the late 1590s, when they owned the manor, he built Stockton House. John and his wife Mary are buried in the canopied tomb in the north aisle. Just to the right of this tomb is the memorial tablet to John Topp the Younger. (Three generations of this family each had two brothers called John). John Topp who died in 1640 left £1,000 in his will for charitable use; his trustees built the almshouses.
On the wall in the north aisle is a piece of Genoese velvet in a frame. This is a surviving part of the ‘paned velvet and satton covering to be kept whole and undivided’ which John Topp the merchant tailor left ‘as an ornament of the Communion Table’. This altar frontal was still in use in the 19th century.
Visitors to Stockton church will, on entering, immediately step on the tomb of Ann Raxworthy who died in 1829. Fearing that in life she had been proud, Ann left directions that she should be buried under the passing feet of all people.
Also near the entrance is the Norman font, which was thoroughly restored in 1879. The surrounding baptistry was decorated with mosaics by Italian workmen in the same year.
On the wall in the north aisle is a piece of Genoese velvet in a frame. This is a surviving part of the ‘paned velvet and satton covering to be kept whole and undivided’ which John Topp the merchant tailor left ‘as an ornament of the Communion Table’. This altar frontal was still in use in the 19th century.
Visitors to Stockton church will, on entering, immediately step on the tomb of Ann Raxworthy who died in 1829. Fearing that in life she had been proud, Ann left directions that she should be buried under the passing feet of all people.
Also near the entrance is the Norman font, which was thoroughly restored in 1879. The surrounding baptistry was decorated with mosaics by Italian workmen in the same year.
Outside the building, on the south wall, are several scratch dials. When a stick was placed in the central hole, the shadow of the sun helped the priest to calculate the time at which his prayers and services should be held. The wall was rebuilt in the 19th century and a stone with dials on it was replaced the wrong way up.
There were three bells in 1553. In 1660 they were cast into four by John Lott of Warminster. The third was recast by the younger John Lott in 1683 and the tenor was later replaced by a bell cast at Salisbury in the period 1380-1420.
There were three bells in 1553. In 1660 they were cast into four by John Lott of Warminster. The third was recast by the younger John Lott in 1683 and the tenor was later replaced by a bell cast at Salisbury in the period 1380-1420.
Whilst Colt Hoare and Buckler focus on the building, other sources give us a glimpse into the life of a country priest. Glebe terriers are descriptions of the property attached to a living, including land, housing and tithes. Four terriers have survived for Stockton; the latest, in 1783, gives a long and detailed description of the rectory, the land attached, the animals he owned and the payments made to him by parishioners. The rectory was built of stone and had a tiled roof. It had an entrance hall, pantry and four other downstairs rooms. Upstairs were four bedrooms and a closet (probably a storage cupboard for clothing) plus two small garrets for the servants. A thatched wood shed was joined on to the house. There was also a barn and a stable, including a cart house, all thatched. This two acre plot had two gardens, an orchard and a farmyard; all together it was a substantial property and a good living.
The rector had the right to keep sheep on a particular piece of land (80 in summer, 60 in winter) and to put six pigs on the stubble after harvest. His main source of income was the tithes, which were a tenth of all agricultural or other produce, paid by the parishioners each year. For example, the rector was paid a penny for every cow milked in the parish, a penny for every garden, two eggs for every cock bird and one for each hen or duck, three pence for every calf born. He could also charge for his services. His fees were 6d for the churching of women (a ceremony following the birth of a child), 5 shillings for a wedding by banns, 10s 6d for a wedding by licence; christenings and funerals were free.
In 1783 the clergy were obliged to send a return to the Bishop called Visitation Queries, which was a list of questions concerning religious life in the parish. We learn that services were held twice on a Sunday at 11.30am and 2.30pm. There were four communion services a year with an average of thirty communicants. The church was in the care of a curate, Henry Williams, who lived at Codford St. Mary, where he was also curate. Henry had a third parish, Fisherton de la Mere. He led five services every Sunday across the three villages, spending most of his day in church. He was employed by the Rector, Edward Innes, who was the resident Rector of Devizes St. John.
In 1783 the clergy were obliged to send a return to the Bishop called Visitation Queries, which was a list of questions concerning religious life in the parish. We learn that services were held twice on a Sunday at 11.30am and 2.30pm. There were four communion services a year with an average of thirty communicants. The church was in the care of a curate, Henry Williams, who lived at Codford St. Mary, where he was also curate. Henry had a third parish, Fisherton de la Mere. He led five services every Sunday across the three villages, spending most of his day in church. He was employed by the Rector, Edward Innes, who was the resident Rector of Devizes St. John.
Visitation records continue into the 19th century. In 1864 the Rev. Thomas Miles had been in post since 1855 and was living at the rectory. He reported that the church was in good repair. Two services were held each Sunday at 11.00am and 3.00pm. The church held 200 people. Miles did not say how many people attended church but noted that the afternoon service was more popular than the morning. He concluded by making a mysterious reference to ‘unfavourable circumstances here for which I cannot suggest a remedy’.
The situation was very similar in 1867. The Rector’s comment was that the afternoon service was better attended than the morning as ‘the poor do not like a sermon as it increases the length of the service’. By 1870 the average congregation was 90 in the morning and 110 in the afternoon. The Rev. Arthur Corfe had arrived in 1868 and he introduced a sermon at both services. In 1876 he voiced his concern about the non-resident land owner, probably a continuation of the comment made on the 1864 return. He may have been suggesting that there was a lack of leadership in the village. Communities looked to the lord of the manor and their priest to provide leadership and encouragement by example.
The situation was very similar in 1867. The Rector’s comment was that the afternoon service was better attended than the morning as ‘the poor do not like a sermon as it increases the length of the service’. By 1870 the average congregation was 90 in the morning and 110 in the afternoon. The Rev. Arthur Corfe had arrived in 1868 and he introduced a sermon at both services. In 1876 he voiced his concern about the non-resident land owner, probably a continuation of the comment made on the 1864 return. He may have been suggesting that there was a lack of leadership in the village. Communities looked to the lord of the manor and their priest to provide leadership and encouragement by example.
In later years the church provided a sense of stability in the parish as most of its rectors stayed in post for ten years or more. Arthur Goodman arrived in 1912 and stayed until 1932. Stockton had its own vicar until 1957 when it was joined with Wylye and Fisherton de la Mere. A further change took place in 1973 when Stockton was instead joined with Upton Lovell and Codford. In 1977 Boyton and Sherrington were added to the group. The format changed yet again in 1982 when Stockton joined Steeple Langford, Little Langford and Wylye. In 1997 the Wylye and Till Valley Team was created and the four parishes were joined by Berwick St James, Great Wishford, South Newton, Stapleford and Winterbourne Stoke.
The parish registers for Stockton date back to 1589. These registers are available to view at the Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre in Chippenham (apart from those currently in use).
The parish registers for Stockton date back to 1589. These registers are available to view at the Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre in Chippenham (apart from those currently in use).