Holy Rood Church, Rodbourne, St. Paul Malmesbury Without

The church was built in the 12th century and was originally served from Malmesbury. It is of stone rubble and ashlar and the small, and almost square, chancel may be original. The east window was replaced in the 13th century while in the 14th century the piscina was added to the chancel. In the 15th century new windows were inserted in the south and west walls of the nave and the south wall of the chancel. The porch was added in the late 15th or early 16th century. The dedication to the Holy Rood was in use by 1763. In the late 18th and early 19th centuries services were held on alternate Sundays with Corston. The chancel was refitted in 1849 and a 14th century style window inserted in the north wall. The tower and baptistry were added in 1851 and may have replaced an earlier bellcot. On Census Sunday in 1851 there were 80 people at the afternoon service, which was said to be larger than the usual congregation.

The church was licensed for marriages in 1873; before this they probably took place in Malmesbury. Until 1881 the vicar of Malmesbury had appointed a curate to serve both Rodbourne and Corston churches but in that year the two churches were made a district chapelry with a vicar. The church underwent extensive repairs in 1903 including the renewal of the roofs and the reflooring of the nave. In 1986 the benifice of Corston and Rodbourne was united with those of Great Somerford, Little Somerford and Seagry. There is one bell of 1654. The parish register entries from 1881 are included in the Corston registers which, other than those in current use, are held in the Wiltshire and Swindon Record Office. Earlier entries will be found in the Malmesbury registers.