St Nicholas Church, Fonthill Gifford
The first church in Fonthill Gifford parish was recorded in 1291 and stood in the north-east of the parish, near to the stream and the location of Fonthill House. Little is known of the structure of this house except that an aisle built for the Mervyn family was part of it in 1547. The dedication of the church was noted in 1566 to be to St. Nicholas.
The History of Wiltshire (VCH) reports that in c.1546 both Sir John Mervyn and Sir Thomas Arundell claimed to be the lessee of tithes from the parish and each appointed a curate. In the course of their dispute both changed locks on the church, a corpse was denied burial, taken to Fonthill Bishop, and returned to Fonthill Gifford, and they fought in the church over the surplice”! (Vol. XIII, p.
This church was noted in 1747 to be ruinous and between that year and 1749 was demolished, to be replaced by a new church by the older William (Alderman) Beckford beside the Hindon to Tisbury road. Consecration of this new church took place in 1749; it was square in shape and had a square tower on the north-west side which was surmounted by a domed octagon. It had a pedimented Tuscan portico. In 1866 this building was in bad repair so again was demolished and replaced by Holy Trinity Church.