Services

Shillingstone Church has services approximately once per month. When there is no service at Shillingstone there is normally a service elsewhere in the benefice. Please check our events page for further details.

Visiting

Shillingstone Church is open from 9am-4pm everyday for visitors and/or private prayer.

History

This is a fascinating and beautiful Grade 1 listed church. The Doomsday Book records a Norman Lord Schelin as holding the Manor of Ocforde. This is why the village was known originally as Shilling Okeford. If he founded the “new” church it would place the origins of the current building at around 1090 AD.

The church is surrounded by fields on three sides which were the probable site of the original village abandoned after the Black Death in the mid C14, hence the siting of the church outside the bulk of today’s village. The base of a C14/15 preaching cross is located in the churchyard.

The medieval church underwent a significant increase in size with the construction in 1888 of the north aisle and chapel north arcade and north aisle by F. W. Hunt and probably later the vestry. A number of tiny C12 window remain high up in the walls of the nave.

The chancel and nave have very attractive painted ribbed barrel roofs. A restoration in 1902 had a significant impact on the church – the old choir stalls were replaced as were all the medieval doors. The ancient stone staircase to the rood loft was removed, much of the north wall of the chancel was replaced by a wide arch where the organ is now sited.

There are some ancient Saxon artefacts in the church as well as a 13th century font and a 17th century pulpit.

For the parish safeguarding policy and safeguarding officer contact details click here.

CHURCHYARD NEWSLETTER

For the latest update on all things churchyard related, here’s our latest newsletterr: newsletter no 4 public

Shillingstone Church Roof Appeal

During 2023 and 2024 were able to reroof the Chancel and North Aisle of the church, thanks to the immense generosity of donors and grant funders. Full reroofing of the church will be completed with the Nave and Porch in Spring 2026. We have already raised £84,000 toward this and are just £20,000 short of the amount needed. The nave has a beautiful cream and red painted ceiling which we need to protect before the roof fails. If you feel you can donate we will be most grateful.

Donations

Please use this link Donation – Shillingstone Church Roof Appeal

or make a bank transfer to Shillingstone PCC, giving payee reference as ’roof’: Sort code: 40-52-40 Account No: 00010777

or send cheque or cash to the Treasurer, Anne Powell, Shottsford Cottage, Shillingstone DT11 0TT. Anne is also delighted to help you to Gift Aid. Tel 01258 861397.

Read our story so far

The North Aisle roof collapsed in Nov 2022 causing interior damage water damage. With amazing local support we were able to raise the necessary funds and have the roof renewed in just 12 months using reclaimed tiles as the church is Grade 1 listed. Before and after photos below.

Before

After

Meantime the Chancel Roof started leaking and was our next urgent priority. It is a little gem with attractive tile banding outside, and inside a most unusual ceiling. By the time the reroofing was started in 2024 the leaks had multiplied to six! Due again to the incredible support of the community we have been able to save and protect this beautiful ceiling. To protect it during the works we have to have a vast scaffold over-roof which you can see below.

The Nave and Porch which are also in very poor condition. The Nave is bright and light with a lovely decorated ceiling, that is very different from the Chancel. We aim to raise enough money for this part of the roof before leaks threaten it.