x-mark
Become a Friend

Visitor information

location

Wyndham Lane
Allington
Salisbury
Wiltshire
SP4 0AG

calendar

Open daily

OS grid reference

SU204394

info

Please note there are 3 Allingtons in Wiltshire – ours is the one 7 miles north of Salisbury. St John the Baptist is easily found on the A338 in the heart of Allington village.

The chancel at St John the Baptist's is tiny. But, boy did the curate get a bang for his buck from the decorators.

From floor to ceiling, there are vines, fleur-de-lys, roses, oranges, curtains, and lots of stars.

About St John the Baptist's, Allington

The earliest parts of the building are Romanesque; this includes the chancel arch and a remnant of a decorated Norman door, which can be seen on the outside of the north wall.

The church was largely rebuilt between 1847 and 1851 by “priest-architect” Father William Grey (1820-72), who was responsible for at least ten new churches in England and Canada. He tried to keep as much of the original character as he could, the only major change being to the top storeys of the tower. He had the medieval font recut and kept the 16th-century parish chest. He also re-used pieces of the older stonework, including a fragment of a Norman doorway on the north elevation.

One of the principal sights of the interior is the internal decoration to the chancel. This is of 1876 and created in memory of Fulwar William Fowle, rector of the parish for a remarkable 60 years (Grey was his curate). Fowle helped finance the rebuilding and there is a memorial to him in the chancel. The stencil and freehand decoration on the plaster, including the orange trees, and the east window are all by the distinguished form of Heaton Butler and Bayne.

An earlier incumbent was his kinsman Thomas Fowle (d. 1806) who was engaged to Cassandra, sister of Jane Austen. Unfortunately, he died in the West Indies trying to earn enough money to marry her.

St John the Baptist's. Allington
St John the Baptist's. stained glass

Highlights

  • Stencil and freehand decoration in the chancel by Heaton, Butler & Bayne, featuring vines, fleur-de-lys, roses, an orange tree, a painted curtain with curtain pole, and a multitude of stars – creating a form of celure, or canopy of honour, over the altar
  • Patterned tiles on the chancel floor and the Crucifixion in the east window – also by Heaton, Butler & Bayne
  • Fragment of a fine Norman arch, probably a doorway, with pellet and lozenge decoration
  • Mass dial on the external south wall
  • Medieval parish chest
  • Victorian font lid with three carved heads on the finial

Further information

The buttons below link to church or local information on other websites.

Newsletter sign up

Keep up to date with our latest news and learn more about the churches in our care by signing up for our email newsletter.