Churches of Devizes in Wiltshire

Two Norman Churches were built during the 12th century by the Bishops of Salisbury. St. John's (right) was initially the castle church and St. Mary's the church for the growing market town outside the Castle walls. These two churches however have usually been linked throughout their history under one curate. St. Mary's has now closed and plans for a community function are being developed. St. James Church was originally known as the Green Church; it was built during the 15th century. It was a Chapel in the Parish of Bishops Cannings until the 19th century. It served the houses around the Green which was not then part of Devizes. It is now in Devizes and it has played a major role in the development of Southbroom Juniors and Southbroom Infants Schools. 

Religious dissent and controversy has characterised Devizes throughout its history. John Bent, an Urchfont tailor was burned to death in the Market Place in 1523 for denying the belief that the bread and wine used in the communion are converted into the body and blood of Christ. John Maundrell of Rowde was burnt in Salisbury for dissenting in 1557 and William Prior of Devizes was burnt at the stake in Salisbury for Lollardy in 1558.

Devizes has a history of dissenting protestantism; some of this story is told in the individual Churches section. There is a large section on this aspect in the Congregation Church report. Religious intolerance of dissenters continued after the end of the divisive Civil War and the Puritan Commonwealth under Oliver Cromwell . 

The Methodist Wesley brothers were given a hard time by 18th Century mobs, whipped up by Church of England clergy. under Oliver Cromwell . 

Devizes was quick to embrace non-conformism, despite the persecution it often brought. The Quakers were particularly strong and in 1661many townspeople were committed to prison for attending their meetings. There is a Quaker burial ground in Hillworth Park that is dated from 1665. By 1715 it has beeen estimated that twenty-two percent of those registered to vote in the town were “dissenters”.

There was an extensive building programme from the 1790 to the 1860s. The Congregational Church, two Baptist Churches, St. Joseph's RC Church , St. Peter's and St. Andrew's Methodist Church were built at this time. These served the religious needs of the growing population in 19th century Devizes. St. Peter's Anglican Church (right)

Above Devizes Chamber Choir's summer concert July 2010 in St. Peter's Church