St Mary's Church, Old Dilton

St Mary’s Church stands beside the Biss Brook in Old Dilton, a quiet hamlet two and a half kilometres south-west of Westbury in Wiltshire. Built in the 14th century, it was once a chapelry of Westbury parish church and later became part of Dilton Marsh when the civil parish was created in 1894. The church was declared redundant in 1973 and placed in the care of the Churches Conservation Trust the following year. It remains consecrated and still hosts two services each year despite its reduced role. The building shows layers of history. The gabled south porch may date from the 14th century, but most of the fabric belongs to the 15th century. Inside, an 18th-century renovation introduced box pews, a three-decker pulpit and two small galleries, one of which served as a schoolroom with its own fireplace. The octagonal stone font is from the 15th century, and the Royal Arms of George III hang in the chancel. The church has no electricity and its fabric has been carefully preserved. Conservation work in the 1930s and 1950s, funded by the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings, was followed by more recent repairs to tackle damp, rot and insect damage. Visitors find a peaceful interior with plain fittings and a small spire at the western end. The surrounding hamlet and the brook add to the quiet atmosphere of this historic place.