Contiguous Parishes (our neighbours)
Fisherton Anger - Fugglestone St. Peter - Netherhampton - Salisbury - Stratford Sub Castle - West Harnham
Websites
GenUKI - For information on Bemerton and Fugglestone
University of Leicester's - Website for historical Wiltshire directories
Friends of St. Andrews - Bemerton and George Herbert in Bemerton Group website
Bemerton Parish Website
Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre - The Wiltshire County Archives for all historical documents and the place to obtain original copies
Wiltshire Community History - Historical information for parishes within the Wiltshire County jurisdiction.
Bemerton Local History Society - Historical Information
The Parish Churches of St. Andrew and St. John the Evangelist
St. Andrew (George Herbert's Church)
This dates from the 14th century although it is much restored. It is a very small church, of flint with ashlar dressings, having a nave, chancel and small south porch. The renowned poet and hymn writer, George Herbert, was ordained priest here in 1630 and carried out a restoration of the church. He was already suffering from consumption when he came to Bemerton and died in March 1633. The church was also extensively repaired in 1776, 1866 (when the gallery was removed), and 1894-6, and little of the early building remains. A small bell turret was added between 1790 and 1800 and contains one bell. George Herbert's rectory is on the other side of a narrow road from the church. (source: Wiltshire Community History).
The 23rd Rector of Bemerton was Mr. George Herbert. A high flying courtier, Cambridge academic, writer of the King's speeches and if accounts are to be believed, wearer of the finest fashions. Herbert gave it all up and when he was 37 he came here for his first job. He died just 3 years later of consumption. His legacy is threefold: Firstly - he was a great priest, and he wrote one of the first "how to" guides for clergy, called "The Country Parson". His life was celebrated by the biographer Isaac Walton (of Complete Angling fame) and he has been a pin-up of the clergy ever since. Secondly - he was a poet and a songwriter. He used to play his lute at the window of his Rectory (opposite St.Andrews church) as well as playing with Salisbury Cathedral band. 5 of his hymns are still sung widely today. (And our group have commissioned music to others!) Thirdly - he was a poet to rival Shakespeare, and is studied as such by students of English around the world. The little church where he served his only time as priest and where he is buried in the sanctuary gets visitors from Japan, India, USA and everywhere else. [source: Bemerton Parish] St. Andrews Church Gallery Inside St. Andrew's George Herbert and Bemerton (Independent Website)
Bemerton Protestation Return 1641-1642
St. John the Evangelist
The church was built with the help of donations from George Herbert's admirers in America and the British Prime Minister, William Gladstone gave the lectern. The church, with a chancel, nave of three bays, two aisles, a south porch and a square north tower with a small steeple in one corner, was able to accommodate the increasing population that was proving too much for the small St. Andrew's church. The church was dedicated in 1860 and is in a Neo-Early English style. A lych gate was added as a memorial to parishioners killed in the First World War. [source: Wiltshire Community History] In 1933 a stained glass window was added to the church which is now known as the West Window one of the character depicted in the window is that of George Herbert the other being Nicholas Ferrar who was executor of George Herbert's will and also the publisher of his poems. A cross on the north wall of the church also commemorates George Herbert
St. Johns Church Gallery St. John's Churchyard Gallery St. John Churchyard Survey
Choir Outing 1883 Bazaar in Rectory Gardens 1884
Parish Register Transcripts
Baptisms
Marriages (including Fugglestone)
Marriages
Burials
Please note the burials above are incomplete and include St. Andrew and St. John and also some burials out of the parish where the funeral took place in Bemerton churches. The marriages 1900-1927 are incomplete as many dates for some reason have not been transcribed - these will be updated as and when that information can be found.
Parish Registers held at WSHC
Baptisms 1657-1939
Marriages 1671-2006
Burials 1657-1950
With Fugglestone St. Peter prior to 1657 and from 1860 with St. John the Evangelist
Parish History
Civil Registration
1837 - April 1936 Wilton Registration District
April 1936 - Present Salisbury Registration District
Buildings and Land
Property Sales
Crime and Legal Matters
Crime Reports 1800-1849 Obstructing Railway Charge 1870
Directories
Pigots 1830 Post Office 1875 Kellys 1915 Post Office Telephone 1940
Education
Emigration and Migration
Employment and Business
Runaway Apprentice 1801 Gamekeepers Certificates 1807
Miscellaneous Documents
Non Conformity and Other Places of Worship
St. Michaels and All Angels, Bemerton Heath
Bemerton Methodist Church
People and Parish Notables
Accidents
Accidents 1800-1899 Man Killed by Lighning 1901
Associations, Clubs, Organisations and Societies
Wiltshire Friendly Society Membership 1837-1871 Clubs & Societies News 1950-1999
Census Returns Transcripts
Elections, Polls & Voting Lists
Poll of Freeholders 1772 Poll Book 1818 MP Nominations 2017
Parish Notables
| William Coxe, Archdeacon of Wiltshire and historian | Walter Curle, Bishop of Wiltshire | George Herbert, Cleric and Poet 1593-1633 (see under St. Andrew's Church for further details) | |
| John Morris, Metaphysician | |||
Taxes
Poor Law, Charity and The Workhouse
Workhouse
The workhouse for the parish of Bemerton was situated in Wilton
Christmas in the Workhouse 1909
Probate
Probate Index 1726-1879 (WSHC) National Probate Index 1858-1966
Inquisitions Post Mortem of Lands Held
Thomas Eyre 1629 George Irton 1629 Richard Grobham 1630 William, Earl of Pembroke 1630 Richard Irton 1639
Parishioners Wills
Robert Strugnell Proved 1639 Thomas Light Proved 1745 Catherine Palmer Proved 1747
War, Conflict and Military Matters
War Memorials & Military Gallery Bemerton War Memorial
Boer War
Reservists Leave for the Front 1899
WWI
Diocese of Salisbury Memorial Book 1914-1918 Roll of Honour Plaques - St. John's Lych Gate
