Churches
St Matthew, Rushall
| St Matthew's Rushall first appears in history
in 1086 as a dependancy of Upavon monastic cell established by the
great abbey of St Wandrille de Fontenelle, near Rouen. All that survives
from that church is the twelfth century octagonal font with its sixteen
blind arches, placed on what is probably a reused Norman capital.
The church was rebuilt in 1332 and from this rebuilding survives the chancel arch, two windows reset in the north wall, the nave buttresses and the western section of the north wall of the nave. The graveyard was later consecrated in 1402. Of the three bells now hanging in the tower the treble was founded at Salisbury probably about 1400; the second bell dates to 1606 and the third to 1740. The existing tower, with some notable gargoyles and a panelled arch facing the nave, was added in the late fifteenth or early sixteenth century. Extensive rebuilding, easily distinguished by being brick, took place in 1812. Further restoration took place in 1873 when the chancel roof was remodelled and in 1905.
Church Wardens |
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