Whilst I’m away from Wiltshire and unable to undertake any new walks I thought I’d post some photographs of a church that is very close to my heart. I lived within about 200 metres of this church for several years when I first moved to the county. I have visited it countless times and in years gone by delighted to the sound of its single 15th century bell from our nearby cottage. Sadly the bell is now quiet most of the time as the church is managed by the Churches Conservation Trust so is little used.
So the church of which I speak is the Church of St Andrew in Rollestone. It is tucked away at the end of a track leading to the Old Rectory on the edge of the Plains village of Shrewton, standing on a hill above the River Till. As such it provides another landmark in my exploration of the valley of the Till which features in an earlier Blog. Whilst the church is not mentioned in the Doomsday Book, records from 1291 show that a church existed in what was then called Rolveston, meaning the “tun” or settlement of Rolf, who was the tenant of the manor. The Order of Knights of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem (the Knights Hospitallers) had the right to appoint the rector here, for 350 years until the middle of the 16th century, but that ended when King Henry VIII abolished the monastic orders.
Lovers of medieval graffiti will find little to interest them here. It is likely that the Reverend Samuel Heathcote, who bought the adjacent Rollestone Manor in 1827, was responsible for the removal of any graffiti from the fabric of the building during the heavy restoration of St Andrew's in 1845. However, as you go into the porch to the left of the inner door you will find what is said to be a crude mass dial – a sundial to show parishioners when it was time to come to mass. It does however beg the question, was the porch added after the sun dial was carved as I’m unsure how the sun would reach the walls next to the inner door? When I first saw it I wondered whether it was a depiction of a celestial body such as a comet! I doubt it though.
As you enter the church the first thing that catches your eye is the font. This is typical of the style contemporary with the building of the church but there is something curious about it which suggests it may not have been the original font. This is one of the few places you will find medieval graffiti. The rear of the font is marked with an eroded hexafoil, and the remains of a compass-drawn circle. If these are apotropaic symbols they would usually be visible to the congregation, inferring protection on their audience. However, these markings are not visible to the congregation so perhaps the font comes from another church, or was moved within the church at some point?
Or perhaps they are simply stonemason’s marks not intended to be seen by anyone else? Above the font on the west wall is a window containing colourful 19th century stained glass set in 14th century tracery.
The next thing that catches the eye as you enter the nave are the pews. These again bare signs of graffiti. “Originally dating from the early 17th century, these were imported from another church in Heydon, Dorset in 1981. The sole marking appears doubly out of place, therefore, as the inverted 'C 16' appears historic, but suggests the pews were reconstructed at some point before being moved to Rollestone.” (Source – Medieval Graffiti in CCT Churches).
Looking up you then see the short aisle through the nave and chancel of this lovely and simple little church, a place I have sat it peaceful contemplation for many an hour.
To your right set in the south wall is the exceptionally fine tracery of the large window, its plain glass allowing the church to be flooded with light.
Looking to the chancel, the arch was added during Heathcote’s restoration in the 19th century. The two corbels at the base of either side seen in the photograph above are said to represent Victoria and Albert. The communion table and rail are a mixture of 17th, 18th and 19th century construction.
The remaining photographs are just little vignettes that I photographed in August 2021 as I spent time in the church after hearing of the passing of my beloved aunt from the cruel affliction of dementia.
Whilst the church is still used for the occasional wedding, christening or funeral a more unusual use is as a place for “champing”. This involves making a contribution towards the maintenance of the church in return for camping inside overnight. In the churchyard you will find a little wooden shed with a modern day interpretation of a grotesque over the door. This is in fact the bathroom!
Finally, before leaving (perhaps to explore the Till Valley below) it is worth spending a little time in the churchyard which is the final resting place for several of our old neighbours. One particularly poignant grave is that of a friend's one day old son, the boy they had long hoped for. Nevertheless, and despite the background noise of traffic on the A360, the churchyard is a tranquil oasis that lifts the heart, the grounds thoughtfully maintained by the current owners of the Old Rectory. A place that will reward the passing of a little time.
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