The earliest evidence of Christianity in Broad Chalke is the fragment of a Preaching Cross dating from the 9th century that is housed inside the church. Over the years there have been alterations and improvements and each century has left its mark. The present building was started in 1280, and in the17th century John Aubrey, in his “Natural History of Wiltshire” wrote “The church hath no pillar, and the breadth is thirty feet and two inches”.
The first record of people in the church goes back to 1384 when the then Bishop of Salisbury was rather vexed when on a visitation, he was not met by the Rector, and found the chantry chaplain to be mentally derranged! We hope things have changed since then.
There is a full set of 8 bells in the tower and they are rung for services and special occasions and visiting bell ringers are always welcome.
There is a detailed account of the history of All Saints in the book “Broad Chalke, a History of a South Wiltshire Village, its Land and its People over 2000 years” and a short history is available as a booklet in the church itself.
Chalke Talk - this month's services