St Nicholas Chippenham

 

 This week the Church Explorer visits St Nicholas Chippenham, it was the village of  Hardenhuish but Chippenham expanded and it became a suburb of the town. I stopped off here after Langley Burrell but found the church locked so it's a shorter blog than normal. The reson for coming here was because this is the first church that Robert Kilvert was vicar of and where his son Frances was born

" St. Nicholas church was built in 1779 and replaced an older medieval church that had previously stood on the same Hardenhuish site. The church was designed by John Wood, the Younger of Bath. The church registers date from 1730." there is a more in depth history here on the Church website 

South west view of the church

Walking along the path towards the entrance

A lot of tombs in this part of the churchyard

Looking east towards the modern part of the churchyard

Steps leading up to the church entrance, it was locked

North side

Going around the east end of the church you are face with this large vault

It really is impressive to look at

From the front you see three naked maidens, not sure of the significance 

South side

which is where you find this little seat attached to the church, I presume this is where the young Francis Kilvert sat reading

Back looking at the south east

North side of the church from the north east corner of the churchyard

The old rectory which is across the road from the church and where I presume the Kilverts lived

Till Next time may I wish you all a peaceful week