From Chicklade And Pertwood, A Short Parish History by E.R. Barty, M.A., Chicklade, Old Rectory, first published December 1955:
A NOTE ON BERWICK ST. LEONARD’S CUM SEDGEHILL
Sedgehill concerns this history only as the home of the Frowd family. The Rev. J.T. Frowd was a descendant of Thomas King to whom William Grove, Esq., granted a portion of land.
The site of the church commands a wide view. In Colt Hoare’s day it was a chapelry attached to the Rectory of Berwick St. Leonard. Colt Hoare states that he found only one monument in the Chancel in memory of James Frowd, who died January 14, 1765, aged 48, also to Jane, daughter of James and Mary Frowd, who died January 7, 1760.
Presumably James Frowd was the father of our Rev. John Thaine Frowd.
While searching for information regarding the Frowd family (the Memorial plaque is no longer in the chancel) we came across the following poignant statement in a churchwardens’ Presentment found among the papers of Thomas Grove, Esq. (1588), (Colt Hoare):
“We present that our Chancel is very much decayed. Item, we present that the Cure is left and committed to a man which can and does teach us sound doctrine but his allowance is small, viz. £7, and that not so orderly paid as we could wish it. We pray you, therefore, have a care thereof, that the man may be better seen unto, for thereupon without our help, he and his were not able to live. John Coward, John Hillgrove: Churchwardens. Thos. King, Junr., William Fevian.â€
A fire at the Parsonage House of Berwick St. Leonard’s more than fifty years before Colt Hoare wrote (date of fire probably 1770 – 1775) consumed the ancient Register of Sedgehill. There is one dated 1767.