History
Nestled in the heart of Long Street, St John’s is one of Devizes’ greatest historical treasures - a Grade I listed building with a dramatic past stretching back to the early 12th century.
A Towering Tale Through Time
Nestled in the heart of Long Street, St John’s is one of Devizes’ greatest historical treasures - a Grade I listed building with a dramatic past stretching back to the early 12th century.
Originally built as the castle church for the nearby Devizes Castle, it has stood witness to sieges, saints, civil wars, and centuries of faithful worship. Let’s take a stroll through nearly 1,000 years of stories.
Origins
St John’s was built around 1120 by the Bishops of Salisbury to serve the garrison of Devizes Castle. You might call it the castle’s private chapel - albeit a very grand one! From its earliest days, it was a cruciform Romanesque church built of fine ashlar stone, with towering transepts, elegant chapels, and a 65-foot tower adorned with detailed carvings.
Inside the tower arches you’ll find a rare blind arcade with triple-intersecting arches - thought to be unique in England.
Civil War
During the English Civil War, St John’s wasn’t just a place of peace. The tower was used to store gunpowder, and lead was stripped from the roof to make musket balls. You can still spot over 20 grape shot dents in the east wall - fired from a cannon during battle. Look for them under the clock between 2 and 3 metres from the ground - scars of a turbulent past.
The Middle Ages
By the 15th century, St John’s was bursting with new additions: north and south aisles, chapels, pinnacles, battlements, and stained-glass windows. Inside, it had multiple side altars, elaborate chantries, squints (viewing holes), and fine vaulted roofs. One gem is the Beauchamp Chapel, adorned with angel carvings and once home to statues and painted inscriptions. It’s believed to have housed the Trinity Altar, and possibly an image of the Virgin Mary.
Sanctuary
In 1233, the disgraced royal advisor Hubert de Burgh fled to St John’s, seeking sanctuary. Soldiers dragged him back to the castle - but public outrage led to his return under protection. The churchyard was even stockaded to keep him safe… until friends helped him escape!
Renewal
Through the 18th and 19th centuries, the church saw major restorations. Windows were blocked and unblocked, ceilings removed and rebuilt, galleries added and then demolished. Victorian architect W. Slater, with help from Sir Gilbert Scott, led a large-scale restoration in 1862–3, which added a whole new bay to the nave and 154 new seats. A new clock was added in 1901 as a memorial to Queen Victoria, replacing the old Town Hall clock that had ticked since 1759.
Bells
Today, St John’s has eight bells, the oldest dating back to 1610. In earlier centuries, the bell was rung at 4 a.m. in winter (yes, really!) and a curfew bell tolled at 9 p.m. These traditions lasted until 1951.
The Churchyard
Among the gravestones lies a poignant reminder of the town’s past: a memorial to five young people from nearby Potterne who drowned in Drew’s Pond on a Sunday in 1751. The inscription warns against Sabbath-breaking. Nearby stands Sexton’s Cottage, built in 1615, and the Millennium Cross, added in 2000.
Controversy
Change is never easy! When the Rev. E. J. Phipps introduced ritualistic practices to St John’s in the 1840s - including a sermon on the Real Presence - it caused uproar. Some parishioners left, and at one point St Mary’s was locked against the rector. But by the late 19th century, both churches were thriving again, with full congregations and regular services - even special children’s afternoons.
Curious details
Living History
Today, St John’s Church stands not just as a monument to medieval architecture, but as a living part of Devizes life. Whether you’re here to pray, learn, listen to music, or simply admire the ancient stonework - you’re walking in the footsteps of kings, knights, and countless townsfolk across the centuries.