One can't help but be impressed by St Mary's church in Great Bedwyn, Wiltshire. This is a substantial building with a long history as a Christian site.
Great Bedwyn is one of those embryonic towns that litter Wiltshire, never quite achieving the formal recognition of borough status. Marlborough to the North, fortuitously located on the major road that became the M4, was destined to become the 'county' town for this part of Wiltshire. But it would be churlish to dismiss Great Bedwyn as an also ran, the town long supported a market, had a local 'leet' (or court) into the 19'th century and a significant local brick making industry (up to the 1930's). The area supported settlements well before the Romans arrived, and there is evidence of Roman presence from the 1'st century. The street plan reflects the layout of a Saxon town.
There was a substantial Saxon Church in Great Bedwyn, probably dating from the 10'th century. Physical evidence of this churches foundation were believed to be discovered during St Mary's restoration in the 19'th century. The church as it now stands is a cruciform building with North and South Aisles and a tower over the transept crossing. The central aisle dates to the 12'th century. Much of the remaining form of the church is 14'th century, when the aisles were added (perhaps replacing earlier building, the transept, crossing and tower built. At the same time the nave was heightened.
The current exterior appearance owes much to the victorian 'restoration' which substantially renewed the fabric of the church as well as removing interior features such as the aisle galleries.
Sighted on a flat and well kept graveyard, this church is normally open.
Photographed in 2011 for theChurchPhotographer by Nick Temple-Fry.
