Just a few miles from Great Bedwyn sits the small village of Little Bedwyn; here you will find St Michael's church, its history inexorably tied to the area and its larger neighbour. Little Bedwyn is bisected by both the Kennet and Avon Canal and the railway, with the church sitting at the North end of the village. On higher ground a mile or so West of the village is Chisbury fort, originally an iron age structure, re-occupied in the Saxon period as one of the burghal forts that bounded King Alfred's kingdom of Wessex. The area is rich in evidence of Saxon settlements.
It's no surprise therefore that Little Bedwyn has a fine church dating back to 1158, though the high narrow walled nave is reminiscent of earlier Saxon architecture. A curiosity of the nave is that it is pierced by arches of conflicting style, to the south are pointed arches, those to the north are rounded, though the accepted account is that they were built at the same time in the late 12'th century. The relatively narrow side aisles were rebuilt in the 14'th century along with the chancel.
The tower dates from the 13'th century, and was extensively rebuilt after a lightning strike to the spire in the 1960's, the spire itself was added during the 15'th century. The church was restored in the mid 19'th century.
From the outside this flint built church appears quite small, on entry through the 15'th century porch it is impossible not to be impressed by the dimensions, dominated as they are by the lofty nave. It is obviously well loved by the community with the rear of the church serving as a village hall.
Sited in a small graveyard this church is usually open to the visitor. Photographed in 2011 for theChurchPhotographer by Nick Temple-Fry
