About Us

The church of St Nicholas Biddestone is a beautiful medieval church (Grade 1 listed) serving its small village community. Its character lies as much in its quietness and the devoted care bestowed on its fabric over the centuries as in the harmony of its architecture and fittings.

The structure is Norman in origin. It consisted solely of a chancel and nave until the 19th century. The south doorway is the most obvious Norman feature, with columns, capitals and a plain arch framing a tympanum of a cross within a circle. The font is also Norman, with a zig-zag pattern around the bowl. The bell tower was added in the 13th century and the entrance porch and north doorway date from the 14th century. Windows were inserted in the 14th and 15th centuries. The gallery at the west end was erected in the 18th century for worshippers from the neighbouring village of Slaughterford, whose church had been destroyed by Cromwell's soldiers on their way to Bristol and Ireland.

The church was altered in Victorian times with the addition of the sanctuary and the vestry on the north side. The Chancel wall was taken down, an archway inserted repeating the late mediaeval one to the chancel and a short bay added. The north door is now the entrance to the vestry. Box pews were added and the roofs were replaced and covered in stone tiles in keeping with the character of the village. The pulpit was brought from nearby Hartham Church. The stained glass is 20th century and there are some fine wall monuments.

The earliest registers date from 1688 and are held at the County Record Office in Trowbridge.

The church is open daily from morning until dusk. Visitors are warmly welcome.