Bruce Watkin, in 1985, wrote ~
All Saints Parish Church, Norton Bavant
In yew and fir trees but approached by chestnut avenues from the Salisbury Road, A36. A stone building of mediaeval origin (probably of 12th century foundation), it was completely rebuilt, save for the 14th century west tower, by William Walker of Shaftesbury in 1840, mainly at the expense of the Benett family, in what K. Rogers calls a “vaguely Perpendicular style” and C.E. Ponting called the “poorest style of that period”, i.e. 1840. The main body was restored in 1863 and the tower in 1894 so that any remaining mediaeval atmosphere left is due to neglect. The Church is usually locked and little used but the key can be obtained at No.6 and it is worth viewing, if only for the long connection with the Benetts who made the South Transept their mortuary chapel. The west tower with a projecting stair turret has a priest’s chamber with a fireplace in its middle stage and retains its early chalkstone arch to the rebuilt nave. The rebuilding is all in ashlar from a Tisbury quarry (Benett property) but the old arch between the nave and the South Transept was also retained.
The fine wrought-iron gates to the transept are 17th century and the baluster-type font is 18th. The original transept was thought by Ponting to have been built for the Benetts following the death of John Benett in 1461. He is buried in the centre but it is likely that the 14th century chantry known to have existed was in the transept where its piscina still survived in 1830. 25-inch figures of John Benett and his wife Agnes mark their tomb slab. There is also a brass slab to Thomas Benett (died 1605) and incised stones to other members of the family. Further Benett monuments are in the churchyard. These include one to Etheldred (sister of John Benett MP of Pythouse), an eminent geologist who contributed to Colt Hoare’s History Of Wiltshire. The fourth of the peal of five bells was cast in 1711 by Edward Lott of Warminster.