Church Of St Matthew

The Church of St Matthew is an Anglican parish church dating from the 14th century, with substantial rebuilding in the 16th and 18th centuries, and further alterations in 1812 and a restoration in 1905. The church is constructed of limestone ashlar facing clunch, with a brick nave and chancel. The roof is copper, with slate covering the chancel.

The church comprises a nave, a north chapel, a west tower, and a chancel. The tower, dating from the late 15th and 16th centuries, is of two stages with crenellated parapets and corner pinnacles. A three-light window is set into the west face. Surviving elements of the original medieval church include the northeast corner of the nave and the chancel arch, with buttresses indicating the church's original size. The nave and chancel were largely rebuilt in Flemish brickwork in 1812, featuring simple two-light windows with 'Y' tracery along the south side. The north chapel was built in 1789 for John Poore, displaying a two-light north window with bar tracery and colonettes. The chapel and chancel were restored in 1905 by C.E. Ponting, incorporating a lancet window with tracery in the chancel. A shallow porch on the south side of the nave serves as the entrance, with a blocked doorway on the north side. The church houses a good organ by Hill & Co.

The interior features a wide nave with a flat ceiling. A 14th-15th century chancel arch remains, with sockets for a rood beam. The chancel has a 19th-century braced rafter roof, and the priest’s door on the south side was embellished in 1913. A medieval piscina is located in the northeast corner of the nave. The tower arch is tall, with a panelled soffit. A 12th-century font is square with plain arcading, standing on an octagonal base and an upturned fluted capital. There are 16th-century pews with panelled backs and carved bench ends. Creed boards are displayed on the east wall.

The north chapel contains a large white marble tablet (1788) dedicated to Edward Poore, featuring a patera frieze, a lotus cornice, a relief of arms, and an inscription. In the nave, behind the pulpit, is a limestone wall panel of the 16th century with recessed panels, shields (including one inscribed "WP"), and arabesque borders. Additionally, a small inscribed tablet commemorates Roger Pinckney, who died in 1706. Five white marble tablets on black backs are set into the east wall, dedicated to John Hayward (died 1869), George Pinckney (died 1883), David Edmonds (died 1812), Richard Stratton (died 1810), and family. Five more tablets are in the chancel: to Rev. Thomas Giffard (died 1746), Francis Giffard (died 1802), Rev. Kenrick Peck (died 1837) and family, Sarah Peck (died 1802), and Ann Baxter (died 1670). A tablet by Harrison of Devizes commemorates Rev. Kenrick Peck. A Royal Arms plaque from the 18th century is over the south door. The tower contains a hatchment. The chancel window contains 15th-century panels depicting a Crucifixion and the Madonna, with arms displayed above. A stained glass window of 1979 by A.E. Buss is inserted into the northeast nave window.