St Mary's Church, Calne
| St Mary's, Calne | |
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| Church of St Mary the Virgin | |
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 St Mary's, Calne
Location in Wiltshire
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| 51°26′14″N 2°00′10″W / 51.4371°N 2.0028°WCoordinates: 51°26′14″N 2°00′10″W / 51.4371°N 2.0028°W | |
| OS grid reference | ST999709 |
| Location | Calne, Wiltshire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Website | parishofcalneandblackland |
| Architecture | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Functional status | Active |
| Style | Perpendicular, Gothic survival |
| Years built | 12th century, restored 1864 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Calne and Blackland |
| Deanery | Calne |
| Archdeaconry | Wilts |
| Diocese | Salisbury |
| Province | Canterbury |
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Listed Building – Grade I
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| Reference no. | 1271365 |
St Mary's Church is the main Anglican church in the town of Calne, Wiltshire, England. The church is large and cruciform, with a tall north tower; it stands in a triangular churchyard at the heart of the town. Begun in the 12th century, it is described by Pevsner as "the proud church of a prosperous clothiers' town". The church is a Grade I listed building.
A church was recorded at Calne in 1066 and was almost certainly on the site of the present church. By 1116 the church's estate endowed a prebend at Salisbury Cathedral. The present building dates from c. 1160-70, and Norman work survives in the nave and part of a doorway, later moved to the north porch door.
The church was lengthened in the 14th century and St Edmund's chapel was added on the north side. The 15th century saw the addition of a clerestory and north and south porches, together with the re-roofing of the nave.
In 1638 the crossing tower and spire collapsed, damaging the north and east of the chancel. The tower was rebuilt over the north transept and is a notable example of the Gothic survival style, with four stages; Pevsner states that its buttress shafts and pinnacles are "in the Somerset fashion".
The church was restored to designs of William Slater in 1864, when the south and west parts were rebuilt, including the south chapel, and the pulpit and organ were moved. In 1882-3, under the direction of J.L. Pearson, the organ was again moved and the northeast chapel became a vestry; Pearson also designed restoration of the chancel in 1890-91.
The 15th-century roof can be seen in the nave, and the 17th-century roof in the chancel. Bench pews are from the mid-19th century. The three-panel reredos of 1890 was designed by J.L. Pearson.
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Wikipedia