Church of All Saints, Corston, St. Paul Malmesbury Without

A chapel here may have been served from Malmesbury in the 12th century and a plan made before the church was rebuilt in the 19th century suggests a 12th century origin for the structure. It was a long, narrow building of which the earliest surviving record dates from 1341. All that now remains of the earlier church is a 15th century south doorway, an octagonal west bellcot, and a screen that divided the chancel from the nave, and a 17th century pulpit. The church was dedicated to All Saints by 1763. This will always have been a small church with a fairly small congregation, although the attendance of 38 on Census Sunday in 1851 was said to be smaller than usual. The church was rebuilt in 1881 when Corston and Rodbourne became a district chapelry with a vicar. Until then the vicar of Malmesbury appointed a curate to serve both churches. A vicarage was built in 1884 (it was sold in 1985). A transept was added to the church in 1900 and in 1911 the gallery was removed and a chancel added. The two bells were recast in 1930. In 1986 the benifice of Corston and Rodbourne was united with Great Somerford, Little Somerford and Seagry. The registers from 1881, other than those in current use, are held in the Wiltshire and Swindon Record Office. Earlier births deaths and marriages are in the Malmesbury registers, also held in the History Centre in Chippenham.