Church of St. Michael and All the Angels, Standlynch, Downton

The church, dedicated to St. Mary, is thought to have been newly founded in 1147 as a daughter church of Downton. After the settlement at Standlynch disappeared in the late In the early 17th century the the lords of Standlynch manor were Roman Catholics and may have used the church for masses. It was rebuilt in 1677 by Maurice Buckland, then lord of the manor, although part of the late medieval chancel survives. It remained a private chapel. It is of flint and stone in chequer pattern with a nave and chancel only. In the 19th century services were conducted by the private chaplain of Horatio, Lord Nelson, and the residents of Charlton were allowed to use the church until the Church of All Saints was built at Charlton in 1851. In 1859-66 the church was restored and rebuilt in the early Gothic style by William Butterfield. Between 1913 and 1947 Thomas, Earl Nelson, used the church as a private Roman Catholic chapel, served by a resident priest. The church probably received its present dedication in 1914. It contains one bell, dated 1726, and has been closed since 1947.