Chalke Valley Churches


Click on a village to view church details

Alvediston - St Mary

Alvediston (pop 80) to the west is the most scattered village with clusters of houses.  Following a recent fire at the 'Crown'Inn, the church provides a venue for concerts and special events, eg. a Coronation exhibition of local activities and interests. Sheep farming predominates, with some arable, livestock and a race horse stud.

Almost all houses are permanently inhabited; there are council houses in Ebbesbourne and farm cottages at affordable rent in all the villages.

Berwick St John - St John

Berwick St John (pop 250) is the westernmost village in the Chalke Valley, and the Benefice. Nestled amongst the chalk downs, the River Ebble rises here. It is a rural community, with four working farms and associated businesses including a blacksmith. There is a pub and Village Hall, both well supported.

Berwick is renowned for its community spirit, from street parties for national events to its Harvest Supper and Fete. Above all, it is the home of the biennial Country Fayre, founded by village steam enthusiasts and now a huge event which last year raised over £63,000 for the Salisbury Hospital Stars Appeal.

Bishopstone - St John the Baptist

Set in the middle of the Chalke Valley, Bishopstone (pop 684) is a thriving village community with a good mix of young families and retired residents. Whilst lacking an obvious 'centre' there is plenty going on in the village, with a well-used village hall that hosts a wide range of events, from Moviola nights to a lively playgroup. There is also a village pub, popular with families, and a recently improved village playground. The church sits approximately one mile from the rest of the village, in a beautiful riverside setting. The village is in catchment for both Coombe Bissett and Broad Chalke primary schools.

Bowerchalke - Holy Trinity

Bowerchalke (pop 280) is a ribbon development, nearly two miles from end to end, set in the Cranbourne Chase Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, with farms surrounding it. It has a stream fed from a spring that rises in the natural basin that joins the Ebble River and supports a fish farm. It is, in the main a close- knit community of all ages. The "outstanding" Broad Chalke School is a draw for those with young children. There is a monthly farmers market in the Village Hall, and other community events provided by Church and Village Hall supporters.

Britford - St Peter

The ancient village of Britford (pop 560) is 1 mile south of Salisbury, with beautiful views of the Cathedral from the water meadows. It is a small community with no shop, but proud of a very successful cafe with delicious homemade food. Longford castle is at the southern end of the village, there is a fish farm and two other farms and for centuries the sheep fair was held in Britford.

Longford C of E Primary school serves children from the surrounding area. There are a few families in Britford with children but most of the residents are retired.

Broad Chalke - All Saints

Broad Chalke (pop 650) sits centrally in the Benefice and has a good mix of age-groups.  There is a CofE maintained primary school, a sports centre, a village hall where WI, Flower Club, Film Night are each held once a month and Teddybears (for mums, babies and toddlers) once a week, and a pub – The Queen's Head.

The jewel in our crown is The Hub – a shop (Chalke Valley Stores) and Coffee Shop, situated in the URC building.  There are 7 working farms and several small businesses. The village also hosts the internationally famous Chalke Valley History Festival.      

Charlton All Saints - All Saints

Charlton All Saints (pop 290) is a small, friendly village, made up of a caring community of individuals. It is situated in the River Avon valley, surrounded by Longford Estate farm land and by water meadows. All Saints Church was consecrated in 1851.  Horatio 3rd Earl Nelson was the church's founder and patron. During the year, several social events are arranged in the church, central and the only 'public space', which are enthusiastically supported and enjoyed by residents of this and neighbouring villages.

Coombe Bissett - St Michael &

Homington - St Mary the Virgin

Coombe Bissett is a medium sized village on the cross roads where the valley East- West road meets the Salisbury-Blandford road. Homington is a little over one mile down the valley road, easy walking distance across Homington Down. The villages (pop 690) are both extremely friendly. Coombe Bissett enjoys the prominence of the church of St Michael and All Angels and benefits from an excellent village shop, small church primary school and a pub. Homington is a much smaller village, with its pretty church of St Mary. There are a few families in both villages.

The sense of community, within the two villages is extremely important and you will always find a friendly face and someone to pass the time of day with. Social coffee mornings take place in both churches, monthly in Homington and weekly in Coombe Bissett. There is also a well-used village hall. Care and help for the sick or elderly is important and available with the villages also having their own Link service where volunteer drivers will transport those in need to hospital or surgery. A country bus service runs along the Chalke Valley and into Salisbury, usually via the hospital.

Ebbesbourne Wake - St John the Baptist &

Fifield Bavant - St Martin

Ebbesbourne Wake (pop 210) is the largest with most houses around the centre, but some are outlying and West End joins Ebbesbourne and Alvediston. The Horseshoe pub is very popular, while the Village Hall is a centre for all 3 villages. It hosts the 'Alvewake' fête, flower show, film club, concerts and special occasions like the Coronation Tea.  Farms are mainly arable and livestock pasture, with a commercial shoot. Ebbesbourne shares a Parish Council with Fifield.

To the east, there is evidence in field contours of the medieval village in Fifield Bavant (pop 22), deserted due to the plague. Now there are 12 dwellings: Manor Farm House, the former rectory and 10 farm cottages.  Some of the farm buildings are let as stables and workshops. The farm is mainly arable with grazing and a shoot.

Nunton - St Andrew and Odstock - St Mary

ONB (pop 550), short for Odstock, Nunton, and Bodenham, is a charming community nestled towards the eastern end of the picturesque Chalke Valley on the eastern edge of the Chalke Deanery. The civic parish boasts two churches, two hospitals (Salisbury District and New Hall), two pubs, a village hall, a nursery school, a dental centre and a local 'milk hut' where fresh milk from the 800 dairy cattle that roam the village fields is sold, and Longford castle.

The villages collaborate frequently, pooling their resources and creative abilities, particularly for the annual Christmas 'Review/Panto' which is always a sell-out. The summer Ebblefest, a combined fete and music festival, draws people from a wide area and raises funds for local charities and churches. In the summer months, car boot sales provide regular competition to church services! The Nunton field is used by the local football clubs during the winter.

Stratford Tony - St Mary and St Lawrence

Stratford Tony (pop 55) is a small hamlet, alongside the river Ebble. Its delightful church in the care of the Churches Conservation Trust is used for an annual evensong in the summer and the occasional wedding!