Church of St Stephen, Beechingstoke
The church of St. Stephen was first recorded in 1291. By 1961 the parish had been united with those of Woodborough, and Manningford Bohune. In 1972 it was amalgamated into the benefice of Swanborough. In 1291 the church was assessed for taxation at £5, this increased to £7.14s. by 1535. In 1671 the rector had 33 acres of glebe land. The rectory was replaced in 1743 by John Mayo at his own expense, then rebuilt in the 1830’s,and was finally sold in 1956 as a private residence. In the later 17th century the churchwardens were constantly reporting the need for a complete rebuild. The nave was rebuilt in 1693, the date is inscribed on the west gable. The chancel was rebuilt in 1791 by the Rev. Charles Mayo. The whole thoroughly restored in 1862, when the wooden bell turret was replaced by a stone gable, pierced for 2 bells . Earlier bells were replaced in 1604 by bells cast by Robert Beaconsall and in 1909 1 bell was re-cast and one replaced. In 1970 the church had a pewter chalice from 1776, a silver chalice and paten made from an earlier alms dish and paten.
John Clevely who was rector 1630-70 was ejected as ‘ an ungodly man, no diligent preacher’, he was later restored. Edward Warren Caufield rector 1829-46 resigned because he felt no longer able to preach Anglican doctrines. In 1783 Holy Communion was celebrated 4 times annually and attended by 8 – 12 communicants.