Church of St. Nicholas, Porton, Idmiston

The church viewed from the south.

This was originally a privately endowed chantry chapel set up by Lucia Burgelen at Birdlimes Farm. By 1545 it had become a chapel of Idmiston church and was served by a curate. The chapel continued to serve the community of Porton and was doubtless enlarged over the centuries. In 1848 it was described as a small ancient structure with a nave, chancel and a porch on the south side. It had a wooden belfry. Unfortunately the fabric of the church had deteriorated and in 1876-7 a new Church of St. Nicholas was built on a new site, with the Rev. William Dowding, Joseph Waters and Henry Targett providing most of the finance and I.A. Ingram giving the land. This church of flint, with brick dressings and a tiled roof, was designed by J.L. Pearson and has a nave, chancel, vestry, south porch and a bell cote. It was consecrated on 18th July 1877. Unfortunately the builder did not follow the architect';s specifications and the church needed underpinning later. There is a reset 15th century font and the registers dating from 1813, other than those in current use, are held in the Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre.