Rowde is very low on Geocaches so I thought I would correct that and place one and thought the best place to start would be the lovely church in the centre of the village.
This Church brings back many memories for me, one being of school harvest festivals, walking from the primary school (which has since been moved to the edge of the village) to the Church.
Church of St. Matthew, Rowde
It would seem that there was a Saxon church in Rowde as a priest is recorded in the Domesday Book in 1086. What sort of church, wooden or stone, was here is unknown but by medieval times there was a stone church, from which the chancel, although altered, remains. A tower was built in the 15th century and still remains as the west tower of the church. Five bells were in the tower in 1553 and that number remained until 1870, although the bells were renewed before that date. In 1436 the vicar complained that the income from the living was insufficient. It was £4 a year and had been £8 in 1291. From the 17th century the oak altar rails and two stools remain, while a chest is dated 'M 1694'.
Much of the church we see today dates from the 19th century. In 1833 the nave was rebuilt to the design of H.E. Goodridge, although 17th century plaques to the Webb family were reset in the walls. It is in cut stone with slate roofs and embattled parapets, and arcades and aisles were added in 1860. The font, in the style of the 15th century, was given by Rowde born architect Sir Matthew Digby Wyatt in 1850. Six new church bells were cast from the old ring of five (two dated from 1639 and the others from 1654, 1709 and 1754) in 1870. The north porch was built in 1871 and an organ installed in the north chapel. It is probable that the chancel window was replaced in the same year.
The pulpit of wood on a stone base was installed in 1872 in memory of the late Rev. A.B. Starkey, whose family were associated with various gifts to the village, while an oak screen was erected in 1887. In 1901 the chancel walls were raised and a new roof provided. It is possible that not a great deal of work or renovation was carried out for several centuries as the lord of the manor was often an absentee and the manor was leased to tenants. The registers from 1660, other than those in current use, are held in the Wiltshire and Swindon Record Office.
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If anybody would like to expand to this series please do, I would just ask that you could let sadexploration know first so he can keep track of the Church numbers and names to avoid duplication.
To view the church micro stats & information page, please click here
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