St. James' Church, Draycot Cerne

St James’, Draycot Cerne was made redundant in 1993 and is now cared for by the Churches Conservation Trust (CCT).  For access, please see the CCT website, which also has a detailed version of the church guidebook.  Prior to 1993 it was part of a joint benefice with Kington Langley and joined the Draycot Benefice as part of the redundancy process.  The historical Parish of Draycot Cerne was mostly amalgamated with Sutton Benger, in 1934, with the northern part added to Seagry, after construction of the M4. 

 For most of its history, St James was closely associated with Draycot House (demolished 1952-54) and it therefore contains many memorials to the owners of the Draycot Estate.  The house was so close that St James was known as the church in the garden and CCT refer to it as a ‘handsome parkland church’.  Francis Kilvert, the diarist, gives a description of ice skating on the lake, at New Year 1870.

The chancel is the oldest part of the church, dated by a double piscena, circa 1260.  There is uncertainty with regard to the stone effigy under the canopy on the north wall – either of Phillip de Cerne (held Draycot 1250-55, and probably the founder) or Henry de Cerne (d. 1296).  The brasses, to Sir Edward de Cerne (d. 1393) holding hands with his second wife, Ellen, are notable for their quality.

 Sir Thomas Long’s tomb (1508/9), near the altar, was drawn and described by John Aubrey, during one of his visits to Draycot House in the 1670s.  His armour used to hang on either side of the chancel walls. 

The family pew, added by Lady Dorothy Long in 1692, is notable for the marble bust of Sir Robert Long, by the sculptor Joseph Wilton, set on a plinth designed by the architect James Wyatt (who also worked on Draycot House).  It also contains two memorials by Henri de Triqueti – the marble bust for Adelaide Wellesley (d. 1843, aged 8) and the monument to William, 5th Earl of Mornington (d. 1863).  There is a rather plain plaque, on the west wall, to Catherine Tylney Long (later Long Wellesley, d. 1825) the famous heiress.  She is buried in the underlying crypt.    

Georgian Gothic box pews, designed by Francis Hiorne, were installed in 1783.  There were 3 separate Victorian renovations – the nave (1847-52), memorials and windows (1863-64) and the whole building (1876-77).             

The Draycot armour is on permanent loan to Devizes Museum (WANHS).  It comprises an original armet, ca 1490, and sword blade, together with a later funerary helmet and gauntlets. 

The communion silver, donated by Lady Dorothy Long in 1702, is on loan to Chippenham Museum.

    

The parish registers of Baptism, Marriage and Death are complete back to 1690, together with some earlier Bishop’s Transcripts.  Numerous transcripts are available at the Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre, Chippenham, from the Wiltshire Family History Society (including the Manorial Records) and online.   

©Tim Couzens, 2023