St Nicholas Church, Chute

The earlist mention of a church in Chute is from 1320 but it may have been standing long before that. In 1343 it was an endowment of the prebend of Chisenbury and Chute, which had been founded in Salisbury Cathedral c1150.  In 1405 it consisted of 26 acres and tithes of grain and coppices.  

The original church, named St Nicholas in 1405,  was almost completely rebuilt in 1868-72 to the designs of J.L. Pearson. The old church, with stuccoed exterior walls, had a nave with transept and chancel, a south porch and a west timber bell turret, some windows, possibly from the 15th century and one from 18th century in the east. The new building had walls faced with knapped flint supported by red brick buttresses, the new windows were of 13th century style. A vestry was added to the north side of the chancel and a new porch together with a tower and slatted broached spire rose. The chancel roof has trussed rafters, the nave roof emphatic arched braces.

In 1553 the church is known to have had 2 bells; these were replaced by 1 cast in 1582 by John Wallis and one cast in 1681 by Clement Tosier. In 1997 one of those still hung there, together with 6 transferred from Chute Forest. In the early 15th century the church had a silver chalice and paten. In 1553 a chalice weighing 9oz. was left in the parish, whilst 11oz of plate was taken for the king. A new chalice and paten were given to the parish in 1710, and a salver hallmarked 1726 with a flagon hallmarked 1963 are held. The complete registers held date from 1581. 

A chantry had been founded around 1327 by Ralph of Barford, but no longer existed at the time of the dissolution. The chantry was in honour of the Assumption of the Virgin, and it is possible there was an altar in the south transept. It was called the Haldeway Chantry. In 1542 the land of the chantry was sold by the then chaplain to become the Chantry estate.

From 1635 it descended with Dean Farm until the 1920’s when the estate was divided. 

A water pump, together with an underground storage tank, built around 1868 and funded by the then vicar, was said to be for the use of parishioners in time of drought, though the key was held by the vicar. Many of the larger houses had their own water storage tanks, mains water not arriving in the village until 1949. 

 In 1611, the vicar, Richard Horwood was accused of allowing laymen to conduct funerals. He was also accused of sexual immorality, gambling and litigiousness.

On census Sunday in 1851 the morning congregation numbered 246, the evening service 185.

In 1864 the average was 150.

The income of the vicar was £11 in 1535, rising to £244 by 1829.  The vicar’s house was probably built early 19th century and enlarged in 1860. It was sold in 1977.

In 1924 it was united with the vicarage of Chute Forest, and in 1954 the two parishes were united. The united benefice became part of the Wexcombe Benefice in 1979.