Hindon: St John the Baptist

Getting here

Hindon is the major part of the ecclesiastical parish of Hindon with Chicklade and Pertwood. It was ‘planted’ as a new borough in 1220 by the Bishop of Winchester and the original street plan remains substantially unchanged. During its time as a Parliamentary Borough for the English (and later UK) Parliament at Westminster it was entitled to send two Members at once, one of whom was Ralph Sadler, Secretary to Thomas Cromwell. However, it was also once described as one of the most notoriously corrupt of the rotten boroughs, but it's now a typically picturesque Wiltshire village. More than half the village lies in a conservation area.

Hindon has about 500 residents, including children. The population includes some retired people, and a growing number of younger families. The Church Aided primary school currently has over forty pupils, however the separate nursery group closed in 2017. Hindon also has a doctors’ surgery, community stores and post office, two pubs, a fellowship club, a village hall and a children’s playground. The community is generally public-spirited and voluntary organisations thrive.

After the foundation of the town in the 13th century, the Bishop of Winchester provided a ‘chapel of ease’ attached to the parish of East Knoyle. This building had a chequered history until, in 1869, Hindon became a separate parish. The old chapel was demolished and the present church, designed by T.H. Wyatt, was built on the same site in 1870 – 71, at an estimated cost of £3,100. Wyatt was a well known Victorian Architect who built or restored many buildings in Wiltshire, his best known perhaps, being the lavish Italianate church in Wilton. Hindon’s church is all of one style, both internally and externally – Victorian ‘Revived Early English’. The architectural historian Nikolaus Pevsner rather snootily describes it as ‘a reduced, less successful version of his church at Fonthill Gifford’ (two miles south). Be that as it may, the church and its rather eccentric spire are a much loved feature of the village landscape. It is dedicated to St. John the Baptist, as was the previous chapel of ease.

The church now falls within the Nadder Valley benefice and the Parish Priest lives in Fovant. Services are held every Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Full details can be found on the notice board, by the main gate. The church is supported by the, active, Friends of Hindon Church who raise funds for the structure and fabric

High Street
Hindon
SP3 6DJ

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