Church of St. John the Baptist, Allington

The church at Allington is recorded as early as the 12th century and as early as 1650 it was proposed to join with Boscombe church although this was not implemented until 1924. By the 1970s the parishes were united and by 1973 they became part of the Bourne Valley Benefice.

The rectory was not taxed in the Middle Ages as it was considered too poor; it was worth £14 13s 4d. in 1535 and £60 in 1650. By 1830 it was one of the poorest Amesbury livings at £236. The Rector took all tithes except for a small amount that passed to Amesbury Abbey and the glebe land measured about 44 acres prior to inclosure in 1795, thereafter it measured 35 acres. In 1929 the rector sold 30 acres leaving about 4 acres by 1993. The rectory building may have been altered or even rebuilt by Stephen Templar between 1536 and 1559, during his time at Allington, and it underwent various repairs in both the 16th century and the 1660s. It was eventually demolished c.1877 when a new rectory was built of red brick and this was sold in 1974. A new house was also built in that year for a team vicar. Some rectors of Allington parish were canons of Salisbury Cathedral and in 1577 infrequent services were taken by a curate. Nicholas Fuller wrote his ‘Theological Miscellanies’ at Allington and John South, rector from 1623 - 1624 was a professor of Greek at Oxford University. By 1891 H. W. Barclay was the first resident incumbent of Boscombe and Allington for a long time and he was also the first incumbent of the united benefice in 1924.

The 1851 religious census survey shows that about 20 people attended a service in the morning and 35 in the afternoon.

The original chancel dates from the 12th century, was rebuilt in the 13th century, had a tower added in the 14th century and an enlargement made to the east and south window in the 15th century. There was an early painting of St. Christopher on the north nave wall. The church was rebuilt between 1848 and 1852 and then dedicated to St. John the Baptist; parts of the old building were incorporated into the new, the 12th century chancel arch, for example. The ‘new’ church building included a nave with south porch, chancel, and a low tower with weatherboarding on the upper section.

The new building was constructed of flint with freestone dressings and designed by the curate William Grey, based on the earlier church design. In 1877 the chancel was painted and the floor tiled to commemorate F. W. Fowle, rector of Allington. The stencil and freehand decoration was done by Heaton, Butler and Bayne and a stained glass window, also by them, depicts the crucifixion. The chancel includes a sedilia and a piscina and the 19th century font is in the style of the 12th century and has a 17th century pyramidal cover. Church plate includes a chalice dated 1576, a paten dated 1848, and a flagon given in 1851 and commemorating the second wife of rector Fowle. The oak pulpit is 19th century and there are two 16th and 17th century pews with later pews to match. The porch houses an oak churchwardens’ coffer and stool, also c.17th century.

Three bells were listed in 1553 including a tenor bell cast in 1350 in Salisbury. Later bells date from 1613 by John Wallis and a treble bell from 1849 by C. and G. Mears. Parish registers date from the early 1660s and can be viewed at the Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre in Chippenham. In the churchyard are a pair of limestone coffin tombs c.18th century, one inscribed 1728, and two 19th century chest tombs. A forerunner of Reverend Fulwar William Fowle, was Reverend Thomas Fowle, vicar from 1793 to 1797, who was engaged to Cassandra Austen, sister of Jane Austen. Sadly he died before he could marry her. The church was closed on February 1st 2010 and is now vested in the Friends of Friendless Churches who are responsible for its upkeep. Allington villagers now use the church half a mile down the road at Boscombe.