History of Holy Trinity

Holy Trinity, Dilton Marsh

History

The population of Dilton Marsh, in 1842, was around 2,000. The then vicar of Westbury wrote to the Bishop of Salisbury to propose that a new church be built at Dilton Marsh to provide for the larger population.

Following the Bishop’s approval, a committee was formed to raise the necessary funds and locate a parcel of land suitable for said church.

The Committee appointed Mr Thomas Henry Wyatt, the London architect of the Diocesan Church Building Society and also the Italianate church in Wilton, near Salisbury, to design a new church to accommodate 600 people and obtain estimates for its completion. He reported that the church would cost around £2,400, but altogether with the site costs, endowment, repair fund, schoolroom residence and parsonage house, the total would be £4,600.

The funds proved easier to raise than the land did to find, with no landowner willing to sell.

Finally, approximately 4 acres of land, on the corner of what was then known as Bath Road and “a lane”, was finally purchased from Captain Porter for £420.

Mrs T. H. H. Phipps laid the foundation stone on 5th July 1843.

The Bishop of Salisbury, Edward Denison, consecrated the new church on 30th September 1844 when 50 clergy were present.

The first vicar of Dilton Marsh, Revd N.G. Lawson led the service, and the Bishop celebrated Holy Communion and preached the sermon.