St Andrew, Bemerton

St Andrew’s is a Grade II* two-cell church on Lower Road, Bemerton, now in Salisbury, Wiltshire, in the Diocese of Salisbury. Historic England calls it a substantial survival of a small medieval village church, internationally known as the church of the poet-priest George Herbert.

Overview

The listing dates the nave to Norman origins, updated in the fourteenth century; much rebuilt by Herbert about 1630; repaired about 1861 by T. H. Wyatt; and more fully restored in 1894–96 by C. E. Ponting. Fabric is flint with freestone dressings and chequerwork, the stone including local grey-green material, possibly Chilmark, under red tiled roofs. The plan is nave, chancel, open south porch and a tile-hung west bell-turret with a pyramidal cap. The north nave wall is blind, with a blocked Norman doorway. Decorated windows of about 1310–40 survive on the south; a small square opening with an internal shutter may have served a Sanctus bell. The church is a single space without a chancel arch, seating only thirty to forty people.

A chapel of St Andrew at Bemerton is recorded in 1286, dependent on St Peter’s, Fugglestone, by 1340. Herbert was appointed rector of Fugglestone-cum-Bemerton in 1630, restored the dilapidated church and rectory at his own expense, finished The Temple, and wrote A Priest to the Temple. He died in 1633 and is believed to be buried under the chancel floor; a simple plate on the north chancel wall is inscribed “GH 1632”. The Old Rectory opposite is separately listed at Grade II*. The parish now also includes St John’s, Lower Bemerton, and St Michael’s on Bemerton Heath.

Further Information

• Historic England list entry 1023696
• George Herbert and Bemerton
• Bemerton Parish