All Saints Church, Alton Priors

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All Saints Church
Native name Church of All Saints
All Saints Alton Priors.jpg
Location Alton Priors, Wiltshire, England
Coordinates Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Built 12th century
Listed Building – Grade II*
Designated 27 May 1964[1]
Reference no. 311642
All Saints Church, Alton Priors is located in Wiltshire
All Saints Church, Alton Priors
Location of All Saints Church in Wiltshire

All Saints Church in Alton Priors, Wiltshire, England, dates from the 12th century. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II* listed building,[1] and is now a redundant church in the care of the Churches Conservation Trust.[2] It was declared redundant on 28 July 1972, and was vested in the Trust on 12 December 1973.[3]

The church was built of limestone and malmstone rubble in the 12th century, but has undergone several major refurbishments since. In the 18th century the nave, 2 stage west tower and chancel were all replaced.[1] The church contains Jacobean stall fronts and a 16th-century tomb-chest and memorial.[2][4]

The presence in the floor of the church of trapdoors giving access to Sarsen stones,[5] and the presence of the 1,700-year-old Yew tree in the churchyard,[4] suggest it was a sacred site long before the church was built. There is also an unusual brass plaque to local landowner William Button, with a complex inscription. It has been speculated that the message on the plaque, and Sarsen stones may be connected with the nearby Milk Hill.[6]

The church is no longer used on a regular basis with three services a year being held.[4]

See also

References

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