St Andrew's Church, Wanborough

St Andrew's, Wanborough
St Andrew's, Wanborough Location in Wiltshire
Coordinates: 51°32′30″N 1°42′07″W / 51.5416°N 1.7019°W / 51.5416; -1.7019
OS grid reference	SU 2077282567
Location	Wanborough, Wiltshire
Country	England
Denomination	Anglican
Architecture
Status	Parish church
Functional status	Active
Heritage designation	Grade I
Designated	26 January 1955 (1955-01-26)
Administration
Deanery	Swindon
Diocese	Bristol
Province	Canterbury

St Andrew's Church is in the village of Wanborough in north Wiltshire, England. It is an active Anglican parish church in the Diocese of Bristol, one of only three churches in England to have a western tower and a central spire. It has been designated a Grade I listed building by English Heritage.

There has been a church at Wanborough since no later than the 11th century. In 1091 it was granted by Saint Osmund to the Chapter of Salisbury. By the end of the 14th century, the advowson of Wanborough belonged to Amesbury Priory. In 1541, following the Dissolution of the Monasteries, the rectory and advowson of the parish were granted to the Dean and Chapter of Winchester. In 1908 the rights of advowson were transferred to the Lord Chancellor.

In the 14th century, the nave was rebuilt, along with the tower and spire above the crossing. A tower was added to the west in the 15th century; its construction began in 1435. A chancel and porch to the north were also added in the 15th century.Restoration work took place in 1887. When whitewash and plaster were removed from the inside walls, wall-paintings dating from the 15th century were revealed.

The church sits on an elevated piece of land at Upper Wanborough. It is constructed of chalk-stone rubble with stone tile roofs. Its plan consists of a four-bay nave with aisles, and porches to the north and south; a very short transept is apparent internally. The tower to the west has three stages and is crenellated. Above its west window, the tower has a canopied niche. Its windows have Somerset tracery. There is a smaller hexagonal tower with a spire to the east of the nave. St Andrew's is one of only three churches in England to have both a western tower and a central spire. The chancel has two bays and a small door to the north. The porch to the south is gabled with flanking pinnacles with crocketed finials.