( taken from church history pamphlet)
West Grimstead is an ancient parish, the name “Grimstead” originating from the Old English word Grenehamstede (green homestead). It is mentioned in the Domesday Book, with the information that there was a mill here. Its population has varied little during the last 150 years, remaining at around the 200 mark until the recent developments.
The exact date of the building of the church is not known, but tradition has it that it was built during the reign of Willian Rufus (1087-1100), Its dedication is uncertain, some sources give it as St. John, while a few incline to St. George.
The first Rector of whom we have a record was Ricardus Brione 1294. It is interesting to note that the third Rector on the list was Andrew de Grymstede (1315-1349), this obviously being the early spelling of the name of the village.
While the church has of course been altered at different periods, it has escaped the wholesale restorations that were common in Victorian times, with such disastrous results.
There is an interesting picture in Salisbury Museum of the interior of the church before alterations were made in the 1880’s. This picture shows the ancient box pews which are reputed to have been very uncomfortable; these were replaced by the present comfortable seating.
There are several interesting architectural features in the church. The three light East window is late 13th or early 14th century, and its canopied construction is very unusual. The window in the North or Clarendon aisle is a good 14th Century example. The two pillars and arches on the North side of the Nave with their alternate red and white Chilmark stone are Early English.
In Mid Victorian times the walls, pillars, arches and beams, were covered with a very heavy coating of lime wash, a very common practice at that time. This was fortunately removed in more enlightened days.
The splendid Spanish Chestnut roof beams are 14th century, and in 1923, when extensive roof repairs were undertaken, were found to be in excellent condition.
The carved oak pulpit is probably Jacobean, but an old inventory says Elizabethan.
The font has been described as Saxon, but it is more probably Norman.
In the middle of the Nave is a large slab, in the centre of which was formerly a small brass figure of a woman with pointed head-dress, The Latin inscription around the edge of this slab is difficult to decipher, but enough can be rend to show that this stone commemorates Alice, daughter of Sir John Lye of the Isle of Wight, who was the wife of John Mompesson of Bathampton.
The house in The Close in Salisbury known as Mompesson House, was the town house of the Mompesson family.
The hatchment over the West door is of the Nave is not well placed and is difficult to see. It bears the Royal Arms of Queen Anne, (1702-1714), with her motto “Semper Eadem”.
The Tower is a later addition, having been built very early in the 18th century. The first bell was installed in 1712 and the inscription on it reads “J.T. and S.E. churchwardens cast me”. The second bell was added in 1815, and is inscribed “James Wells, Aldbourne, Wilts fecit 1815”.
Prior to the building of the Tower, there were two entrances to the church, one in the North wall and another opposite in the South Wall, in what is now the Vestry. These entrances were bricked up and windows inserted. In the Vestry is an old altar table, reputed to be Tudor.
The iron chest in which the registers are kept was made at Bramshaw Foundry in the New Forest in 1813. This Foundry appears to have specialised in the making of these chests; they are to be found in many local churches.
The organ. is of interest: it was formerly used behind the choir in the Albert Hall during performances of Sir Michael Costa’s Oratorios. It was purchased from Canon Dugmore of The Close, Salisbury, in 1922 and was overhauled in 1965 through the generosity of Mr. B.S. Williams, in memory of his sister Miss Constance Williams.
The Chalice is silver and dated 1576: the paten, also silver, is mediaeval. The Registers date from 1717.
There is no ancient coloured glass in the church. The East window was given in 1900 in memory of his wife by the Rev. Edward Brace Martin, who was Rector of the parish from 1864-1901. He loved Grimstead Church and it was largely due to his efforts that the church is in the condition that it is today.
In the churchyard, a few feet to the West of the Tower, is a remarkable massive coffin lid, carved at the head and on each side next to the head with a figure resembling a fleur de lys.’ This may have covered one of the early Lords who bore the name of Grymstede, or one of the early Rectors. It is possible that it was the lid of the stone coffin in the North aisle, which was found under the floor when the floor levels were altered in the 1880’s.
In Edwards Hutton’s “Highways and Byways of Wiltshire” are these words, “At West Grimstead there is a little old church, very reverent and homely and still. The whole humble building is worth a close and loving inspection, and is a delight on a lonely road”.
Most people would agree with this opinion.