Pertwood Church

From Chicklade And Pertwood, A Short Parish History by E.R. Barty, M.A., Chicklade, Old Rectory, first published December 1955:

Pertwood Church. The only ancient features of the little church are:-

(1) The Norman font on a modern base. This font had been cast out and was found in a field or garden.

(2) The niche for Holy Water on the south side of the chancel.

As Colt Hoare mentions the latter as the only “relic” of antiquity, the Norman font could not have been recovered when he wrote (c.1829).

There are only two memorials of the ancient family of Mervyn in Pertwood church – two flat stones in the pavement of the Chancel:-

(1) To Sheldon Mervin, son of Edward Mervin, Esq., and Frances, his wife, sole heir of Francis Sheldon of Manston in the county of Dorset, who departed this life 6th December, 1734, in the 68th year of his age.

(2) To Mrs. Mary Poulden, relict of Richard Poulden, Esq., and sister of the aforesaid Sheldon Mervin, Esq., who died 27th March, 1747, aged 74.

On the Sheldon Mervin stone is engraved a shield of arms (the Mervin Arms incorporated with those of Sheldon).

The Church Plate is the outstanding feature of interest at Pertwood. The amount of Plate found in Pertwood in 1553 was of the smallest (Church Plate of Wilts). There is now a silver gilt Chalice, 5 ins. in height with a plain bowl and spreading foot. The Hall date mark is 1636. There is also a silver gilt Patten of plate form, 4 ins. in diameter – presumably of the same date. Chalices of the reign of Charles I. are very rare.

There is a romantic story of the discovery of the Chalice and Patten in a wooden box in a cottage at Chicklade.

Only when the contents were discovered and taken to Salisbury for examination were their interest and value realized. Afterwards they were taken to Pertwood Church and into the care of Colonel Egerton, of Pertwood Manor. The Chalice and Patten had been removed from there some years previously.

Col. Benett-Stanford relates an unusual incident which happened at Pertwood about 1860. His grandfather, Arthur Fane, Vicar of Warminster, held a service in Pertwood Church about once a month. As there is no vestry the Vicar put on his surplice, etc., in the house and walked across to the church nearby. One Sunday the farmer’s wife met him. Those were the days of good manners. She curtsied and asked if the Vicar would do her a favour. The Vicar replied that having known her for many years he might almost say the favour was granted before he knew what it was. She then requested Mr. Fane to preach from the altar steps instead of the pulpit that morning. “I will,” said the Vicar, “but tell me why you want me to do so.” “Well, Sir,” said the old lady, “our turkey be setting up in the pulpit.”

Pertwood Old Church, 1804, after the drawing in the Buckler Collection, Devizes Museum.