FIRST SUNDAY -- Holy Communion (Common Worship)

SECOND SUNDAY -- Family Service

THIRD SUNDAY -- No service

FOURTH SUNDAY -- Matins

For details, and of all that is happening in the Valley Churches, see HERE

All Services begin at 11.00am.
Visitors and all denominations are most welcome

Refreshments are served in the church at the conclusion of the Service

The Parish Church of St Michael and All Angels

Coombe Bissett

        For over 900 years a church has stood on this site. The earliest mention was in the Domesday Book, AD 1086, where we read that ‘The King holds Cumbe …. Leuric a priest holds the church of this manor with half a hide, which is worth 20 shillings’. As Leuric is not a Norman name it is likely that there was a wooden Saxon church on this site although no trace of it remains. The oldest part of the church dates from c.1100 when it consisted of a nave, chancel and a chapel or tower to the south of the nave. The present chancel was built in the mid 14th century, whilst the tower, north aisle and transept are 15th century. In 1552, on the order of Edward VI, all surplus plate was taken to London with only one chalice and paten being left. In the mid 19th century the church was closed for a year whilst it was extensively restored. In 1961 the chancel was re-ordered and the choir stalls and rood screen were removed.

The family of Byset or Biset gave Cumbe its present name in the 13th century. The village did not escape the Black Death and work on the church in the 14th century was almost halted as the population was ravaged. For several centuries the village was a farming community. Until 1847 Coombe Bissett and West Harnham was one of the parishes which were under the ‘Peculiar Jurisdiction’ of the Dean of Salisbury and not subject to the Bishop or Archdeacon. In 1881 West Harnham became a separate parish. Today St Michael and All Angels Church is within the Chalke Valley Benefice. 

ENTRANCE AREA and SOUTH AISLE

The Porch is c.1845. The South Doorway is Norman although much restored. Over the doorway is a plaque recording the installation of 190 pews in 1845 of which 178 were made free.

The Font dates c.1200-1300. It is moulded like an Early English Capital (head or cornice of pillar or column), with double bell, and supported on a central shaft, surrounded by the four smaller ones. It is carved from a single block of stone. In 1326 an order was issued from Canterbury that all fonts should have a locked cover and traces of where this has been are still visible. It was moved to its present place from the western end of the nave in 1845.  Over the south aisle and arcade are two Norman Arches dating from 1150-1180. The one by the Font has a perfect Norman Column with richly decorated capitals. The Lords Prayer and Creed Prayer Board is early 19th century. 

THE NAVE, NORTH AISLE and NORTH TRANSEPT

High up in the nave the old stone Corble Heads (roof supports) of the original, probably thatched, roof remain. The current roof is dated mid 19th century and it was re-leaded in 2006. The Ten Commandments Prayer Board is early 19th century. 

The north arcade of the nave, the north aisle and the north transept are Perpendicular and dated c.1450. In the north transept is a Funeral Hatchment with the armorial bearings of the Becher family. There is also a record of those who served in The Great War, both residents of Coombe Bissett, Homington, Stratford Tony and Dogdean as well as pupils of Coombe Bissett School. The date of the stained and painted window is not known.

The Pulpit is dated c.1845. The Conacher Organ was installed in 1898-99. To the left of the organ are Records of Parish Priests dating from 1086. Above these records is a doorway which provided access to the long since disappeared rood loft (the rood was a crucifix, especially one raised on a rood screen between the nave and chancel). To the right of the organ is a Record of Benefactors. The income from these charities is currently used to relieve hardship in the parish.

THE CHANCEL

The Chancel dates from 1250-1300. On the north side, the 2 lancet windows remain unaltered. On the south side the 13th century Priest’s Door remains and there is a Double Arched Recess of the sanctuary for Piscina (perforated stone basin) and Credence (table for eucharistic elements).

The rood screen and choir stalls were removed in 1961. During these alterations the Medieval Altar Slab was discovered under the sanctuary floor. It was probably buried there at the time of the Reformation when wooden tables replaced stone altars. Some of the consecration crosses can still be seen. On the south side is a Wooden Chest which dates from c.1580. It is made of soft wood, willow or alder, with iron bands and chains and was removed from the ringing chamber of the tower in 1896.
 
The stained glass East Window was erected in 1901 in memory of Thomas Kingsbury, Vicar, 1885-1892. It shows the reigning and triumphant Christ surrounded by Angels and Archangels. The small North Window is in memory of Ann Isabella, wife of Henry Pollard, Vicar of the parish who died in 1874.

Extract from the Salisbury Diocesan Gazette: May 1901
An east window of stained glass has been placed in the Parish Church in memory of the late Canon Kingsbury, formerly Vicar of the Parish. The work was entrusted to the well known firm of James Powell and Sons, of Whitefriars, London. The subject of the window is The Adoration of the Ascended Christ by Angels'. The choice of subject was determined by the facts that the Church is dedicated to S. Michael and All Angels, and that the subject of the Holy Angels was one on which Canon Kingsbury specially loved to dwell. The window has three lights. The figure of the Ascended Christ, standing robed as the Priest and King, the right hand raised in blessing, the left holding the orb and the whole figure surrounded by the glory of the cherubim, occupies the greater part of the central light, the lower part containing a representation of the Agnus Dei. At the foot of the light is the following description:- ‘To the glory of God and in memory of Thomas Luck Kingsbury. M.A., Prependary of Affculme-olim-Bedwyn, Vicar of this Parish 1885-1892, this window is erected by loving kinsfolk, parishioners and friends'. The other two lights contain representations of angels. On the right of Our Lord, S. Michael is the principal figure, on the left S. Gabriel, with angels behind each. All these are represented as 'Doing Christ service in Heaven'. In front of S. Gabriel is a guardian angel kneeling, in front of S. Michael a messenger angel kneeling receives a command to go on some errand of mercy. At the foot of the first light are the words, ‘As Thy Holy Angels always do Thee service in heaven' and at the foot of the other the words ‘So by Thy appointment they may succour and defend us on earth'. The tracery in the upper part of the window has figures of seraphim, the small light at the top containing the letters I.H.S. The Dedication Service took place on Sunday March 24th, the Rev. Dr. Whitefoord, Principal of the Salisbury Theological College, officiating. The Service used was that sanctioned by the Bishop for such occasions. The cost of the window has been £125.

THE TOWER AND CHURCHYARD

The Tower dates from c.1450. There are Scratch Dials on the south buttress and an old Sun Dial high up on the south west buttress. The Clock was made by Churchill of Downton and was installed in 1870. There are 6 Bells dating from 1589, at least 2 of which were made by John Wallis of Salisbury in the 16th century. The bells were re-tuned and re-hung in 1979-80.

The Lychgate was erected in 1989 in memory of Harold and Eileen Willis and the Memorial Gates were presented in 1978 in memory of Denis Constanduros. Nearby is the Parish War Memorial. The two Yew Trees on the north side of the churchyard were planted in 1845 by the then parish clerk, Thomas Kimber. The Floodlighting was installed in 2000 to mark the new millennium.

Adjacent to the Lychgate is the Village Pound and to the north of the churchyard is the Donkey Field. This is named after 2 donkeys, Jack and Jane, owned by the Widow Rideout, the village carrier, who operated the Coombe Bissett Express to Salisbury in the mid 19th century. She is buried in the south west of the churchyard but no headstone remains.

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We hope that you enjoyed your visit. Please do sign the Visitors Book and also take an Information Leaflet
Any donation that you can make towards the upkeep of this 900 year old church will be much appreciated. If you use a Gift Aid envelope we will be able to reclaim tax of 28 pence for every pound given

June 2007