A354 3 miles S Salisbury Coombe Bissett Salisbury

We have a most welcoming church in Coombe Bissett, with a service in the church twice a month at 11.00 a.m. As part of the Chalke Valley benefice, a ribbon of churches following the course of the Ebble River through the Wiltshire countryside.  We are one parish with Homington. The Team Rector is the Reverend Catherine Blundell. Our Team Vicar is the Reverend Canon Jenny Taylor. Both our Church Warden and the Sidesmen all live in the village.

For over 900 years our church has stood on the same site. The earliest mention was in the Domesday Book, AD 1086, where we read that ‘The King holds Cumbe …. Leuric a priest holds the church of this manor with half a hide, which is worth 20 shillings'. As Leuric is not a Norman name it is likely that there was a wooden Saxon church on this site although no trace of it remains. The oldest part of the church dates from c.1100 when it consisted of a nave, chancel and a chapel or tower to the south of the nave. The present chancel was built in the mid 14th century, whilst the tower, north aisle and transept are 15th century. In 1552, on the order of Edward VI, all surplus plate was taken to London with only one chalice and paten being left. In the mid 19th century the church was closed for a year whilst it was extensively restored. In 1961 the chancel was re-ordered and the choir stalls and rood screen were removed.

The family of Byset or Biset gave Cumbe its present name in the 13th century. The village did not escape the Black Death and work on the church in the 14th century was almost halted as the population was ravaged. For several centuries the village was a farming community. Until 1847 Coombe Bissett and West Harnham was one of the parishes which were under the ‘Peculiar Jurisdiction' of the Dean of Salisbury and not subject to the Bishop or Archdeacon. In 1881 West Harnham became a separate parish. Today St Michael and All Angels Church is, with St Mary's Homington, within the Chalke Valley Benefice.

Homington Village Homington Salisbury
01722 718715

ST MARY the VIRGIN – HOMINGTON

St Mary the Virgin lies in the middle of the tiny village of Homington.Together with the nearby church of St. Michael & All Angels it forms the parish of Coombe Bissett with Homington.This in turn is part of the Chalke Valley Benefice, a ribbon of churches following the course of the Ebble River through the Wiltshire countryside.
The earliest documentary record of St Marys is in a charter of the early 12th century, although there may have been a church in Homington before that date. In 1194 Geoffrey de Neville, who held the manor, granted one acre of land to the church of St Mary of ‘Huniton’ for the souls of his father and ancestors.
Sometime during the 12th century the church was granted to Salisbury Cathedral. At the taxation for Pope Nicholas in 1291, Homington church was listed as part of the common fund for the Canons, with a value of £5. There it remained until1861, when the Dean and Chapter surrendered the property of the common fund to the Ecclesiastical Commission.
The earliest parts of the present church date from about 1250.
The chancel and nave have 13th century plans, and the piscina and the head lights of the east window in the chancel are 13th century features. The north arcade dates from the mid 14th century, the south arcade was added in the 15th century, and the tower was built about 1500.
Much restoration work was carried out in 1794. During this time the main door was removed from the north side to the west. T.H.Wyatt undertook further restoration in 1860 when the chancel and the external walls of the north aisle were demolished and rebuilt. The 15th century roof of the nave was also replaced.
One of the more recent changes came in 1967. The triple lancet east window was reglazed to include a simple cross in stained glass creating what many consider is St Marys finest feature.

 

Blandford Road, Coombe Bissett, SP5 4LE
(01722) 718437
foxandgoose-coombebissett.co.uk/

18c coaching inn on Harnham-Blandford Trust Turnpike. Gate-house toll was just up from pub (left on approach to Salisbury). At one time there were two other pubs in village, Lamb & Flag and Jervoise Arms. The village dates back 5,000 years.