THE HISTORY OF THE CHURCH OF ST. MARY

The earliest documentary record of the church is in a charter of the early twelfth century, although there may have been a church in Homington before that date. In 1194 Geoffrey de Neville, who held the manor, granted one acre of land to the church of St. Mary of 'Huniton' for the souls of his father and ancestors.

Before 1291 the church had been granted to Salisbury Cathedral, for at the taxation for Pope Nicholas, Homington church was listed as part of the common fund for the canons, with a value of £5. It remained in the common fund until 1861, when the Dean and Chapter surrendered the property of the common fund to the Ecclesiastical Commission.

The earliest parts of the present church date from about 1250. The chancel and nave have thirteenth century plans, and the piscina and the head lights of the east window in the chancel are thirteenth century features. The north arcade dates from the mid fourteenth century, the south arcade was added in the fifteenth century, and the tower was built in about 1500. Much restoration work was carried out in 1794, and during this the main door was moved from the north side to the west. T. H. Wyatt undertook a further restoration in 1860 when the chancel and the external walls of the north aisle were demolished and rebuilt. The fifteenth century roof of the nave was also replaced.

Parish registers of Births, Marriages and Deaths from 1675 together with other church records, are housed at the Wiltshire and Swindon Record Office, Trowbridge.

Jennifer Acornley