The copper spire is a landmark seen from all approaches to the village. This was a nineteenth century addition to what was a simple flint faced church built about 1150, which included a stone font. This Norman building probably replaced a wooden Saxon church.

A tower was added a hundred years later and then a chancel. The Brocas family of Beaurepaire built a chapel next to the chancel in 1420. They included some fine brass memorials to members of their family and a chest tomb. A porch was added to the south door in 1533.

The tower contains six bells; the earliest was probably cast in the 1390s and three bells are inscribed with dates between 1587 and 1602. The tenor bell, weighing in
at 11cwt (550Kg) was cast in 1618. The most recent, the treble, was cast in commemoration of World War I.

The pulpit and three-sided lectern, housing Fox's Book of Martyrs are 17th century. Significant changes were made two hundred years later. Elizabeth Chute of The Vyne restored and raised the tower and added the spire in 1834; William Lyde Wiggett Chute built the north aisle. Chute family hatchments and memorials embellish the nave.

Later in the century major internal changes were made including the removal of gallery and large box pews, and the installation of a pipe organ. Most of the stained glass is of this period, with the exceptions of a window in the Brocas chapel that is made up of fragments of 16-18th century glass, and a modern window with a floral design in the north aisle.

Restoration work was also undertaken in the twentieth century and the organ was moved from the chancel to the west end of the church. We are fortunate to have such a fine Grade I listed church in Sherborne St John.

All Saints’ dates from the late 11^th Century.  William I gave his followers many lordships of the land they had helped him to conquer.  Hugh de Port’s distinguished service in the Battle of Hastings was rewarded by the gift of large estates in the northern part of Hampshire.  He established his baronial court at Basing.  Later in life he became a monk and entered a cloister at Winchester, where he died in 1096.  His estate included two shires, or shers, on either side of a brook, or burn.   They were known as East Sherborne (sireburn) and West Sherborne.  [The normal etymology for Sherborne is given as deriving from scir (clear) burne (stream)]

Hugh de Port’s son, Henry, built the Priory at Pamber.  It was consecrated by the Bishop of Winchester, William de Giffard (1100-29), in the year 1110 as a cell of the Monastery of St Vigor at Cerisy in Normandy.  In the original charter, Henry de Port gave the advowson of All Saints, West Sherborne, to the Prior and Monks of Pamber.  It follows, therefore, that All Saints' is older than the Priory.

Henry de Port’s grandson married an heiress of the St John family, and through her inheritance the family name was changed to St John.  East Sherborne became Sherborne St John and West Sherborne became Monk Sherborne.

War with France and the Black Death dealt harshly with the Monks, and in 1461 Edward IV gave the Priory to the Hospital of St Julian, or God’s House, at Southampton.  As Edward III had granted this to The Queen’s College, Oxford, the advowson automatically passed to the Provost and Fellows of the College, in whose gift the living still remains.

The large Chancel arch and the Roman arch over the north door date from about 1140, but the walls of the nave are older, as the arch over the door cuts into a space once filled by a window above and to the west of the door.  Traces can also be seen, on either side of the altar, of another Roman arch, which shows that at one time there was a sanctuary, or apse, beyond the Altar.  This was filled in and the present east window set in its place during the 14^th Century.

It was probably during the Reformation that paintings were removed from the walls.  Faint scraps of red paint may still be seen over the door.

The pulpit was given by the Vicar, John Dobson, in 1651.

The church was restored in 1852 by the Vicar, Septimus Bellas, who also built the Priory School.  He repaired the roof, removed a gallery and built the vestry.  At this time the brick floor of the chancel over the Deane vault was moved to a position outside the church, and the present oak floor was laid down in the chancel.

A further restoration was carried out by another Vicar, Canon Willes, in 1887.  The 15^th Century chancel screen was lengthened, the 13^th Century font was given a new base, and the chancel roof was panelled.  The organ and a brass lectern were installed.  Communion plate was given by Colonel Bickerstaffe, and an alms dish by Mrs Lukin.  The glass in the east window was given in memory of Canon Willes.

The window beside the pulpit was given in memory of a later Vicar, John Robertson.

The Altar rails were given by Harold Cowan in gratitude for his safe return from the 1914-18 War.

The roof was stripped and re-tiled in 1940.

The present oak lectern was given by the Vicar, Edward John Bolus, in 1943, in memory of his wife.  The brass lectern it replaced was given to Tadley.

Electric light was installed in 1956.

In 1968, the chancel screen was moved to the west end of the nave, the church was redecorated and the lighting improved.

When the chancel floor was altered in 1887, two brass tablets, now on the north wall, were found underneath the old choir stalls.  One carries the inscription “Here lyes expecting ye second coming of our saviour ye body of William Dobson a painful servant of God and sometime rector of this parish who exchanged earth for Heaven the first March anno domini 1653”.

The other records the bequest by Thomas Symson of “fifteen pounds yearly so long as the world shall endure” to be divided between the poor of Sherborne St John, Monk Sherborne, Wootton St Lawrence, Baughurst, Pamber and Tadley”.  It is dated 1674 in the 26^th year of the reign of Charles II.  This ignores the Commonwealth and assumes that Charles II’s reign began with the death of Charles I in 1649.

One of the oldest ornaments in the Church is the 12^th Century piscine which now stands in the vestry.

The north door has unusual wrought iron strap hinges of late 14^th Century date worked into fleur de lis.

Outside the church there is an Early English Mass Clock, or Scratch Dial, at the angle of the chancel and vestry walls.

The north porch is 14^th Century woodwork.

The tower contains five bells.  The treble, second and fourth were cast by G Mears & Co, in 1862, and the third by Henry Knight in 1595.  The fifth bears the date 1653, but has no maker’s mark or inscription.  These two bells were returned and rehung in 1852.  The whole peal was re-furbished in 1927, and again in 2014.

The clock was given by Richard Benyon in 1852.  It is recorded that in 1876, the then Vicar found the clock would never go, and spent two days cleaning and oiling it with some success, but the task of winding the clock has never proved easy, and it has continued to need frequent attention.

In the Churchyard is the base of an old Churchyard Cross.

The gate into the Churchyard was given in memory of John Larminie, Churchwarden from 1939 to 1958.

The Parish Registers date from 1618.

Also previously known as WEST SHIREBORNE PRIORY and SHERBORNE PRIORY.

Henry I, the youngest (and fourth) son of William I, became King in 1100 and died in 1135 (succeeded by Matilda/Stephen/Matilda/Stephen). c.1110 AD Henry de Port applied for permission to build a Benedictine Priory as a daughter establishment to the Priory of St Vigor at Cerisy-la-Foret (founded in AD590) in Normandy, for the purpose of saying prayers for all the de Port family and the family of King Henry I (it was believed that the more prayers that were said for someone after their death, then the less time was spent in Purgatory – hence the inclusion of the family of King Henry). Permission was given in 1125 (during the later stages of building?) the Crown issued a licence allowing the collection and use of twocartloads of dead timber each week from Pamber Forest (a Royal Hunting Preserve) ‘for their hearth’.

1128 Consecration of The Benedictine Priory of West Shireborne (now known as Pamber Priory) by William Giffard the Bishop of Winchester (Winchester was then capital of England).

King Henry II, son of Matilda, became King in 1154 on the death of Stephen and died in 1189. King Henry II (and his Queen, Eleanor of Acquitaine) must have made significant use of the Priory during their travels across Southern England, but we have no documentary confirmation.

1170-1180 King Henry II had a large hunting estate constructed at Tidgrove Warren, near Hannington; it had stabling for 80 horses. These buildings were sold and demolished in the 1190’s by a ‘developer’.

1250-1270 the Priory was at its zenith – being very wealthy and well run with many expensive and valuable possessions. It was much used by King Henry III (1216-1272). The Queen (Eleanor of Provence) maintained lodgings at the Priory. Major re-building was carried out c.1245-1265 (the current chancel and significant other building).

1248 (October) the custodian of the King’s wines in Southampton was ordered to despatch one cask of wine to the Queen at Pamber Priory.

1249 (May) Permission was given to fell an oak tree in Pamber Forest (a Royal Hunting Forest) for the making of windows in the Queen’s chamber at Pamber Priory.

1252 (Feb) tuns of wine to be delivered to the following: Guildford (10), Chawton (4), Winchester (10), Reading Abbey (10), Wherwell (4), Ludgershall (4), Marlborough (10), Clarendon (10), Sandelford (4), Sherborne (Pamber) (4).

1254 (Sep) Two tuns of wine to Sherborne (Pamber).

1255 (Nov) Two tuns to Sherborne (Pamber ) Priory. 

1257 (Dec) Two tuns to Sherborne (Pamber ) Priory. A tun of wine is 252 ‘wine gallons’ each of 3.785 litres or 231 cubic inches (the current US gallon), as opposed to the Imperial Gallon (official measure since 1826) each of 4.546 litres or 277.4 cubic inches. King Henry III was a generous benefactor to religious orders. With reference to Sherborne (Pamber) Priory, entries in the Close Rolls of 1247 to 1271 include:

1255 (Dec). Three oak trees were given ‘for the timber of the chapel which is being made’.

1256 (May). Four oak trees were given ‘towards the fabric of the church which is being shaped out’.

1256 (Nov). Six oaks were given ‘towards the fabric of this church, one for timber and five for making shingles’.

1257 (Jan). A gift of four marks (£1:6s:8d) ‘to make three altars in the new work at the Priory’.

1257 (July). A gift of four oaks ‘towards the repair of the church’.

1258 (June). A gift of four oaks ‘to make shingles for the church’.

1259 (March). A gift of three oaks ‘for the building of the church’.

1259 (May). A gift of four oaks from Alice Holt Forest ‘towards perfecting or completing the works at the Priory’.

1259 (Summer). A gift of three oaks ‘for the works at the almonry at the Priory’.

1271 (Jan). The last recorded gift of oaks.

These records suggest that there was a significant building project in progress in the mid-13th century. This is the probable construction of the current chancel at the Priory plus other building (including an almonry). King Henry III travelled frequently, often between Winchester (the capital of England) and Windsor (the military headquarters) or Reading Abbey and would nightstop with his entourage at Pamber.

1251 King Henry III stopped at the Priory 28 May.

1251 King Henry III stopped at the Priory 15 July.

1252 King Henry III stopped at the Priory 19 June.

1253 King Henry III stopped at the Priory 13 and 14June.

1261 King Henry III stopped at the Priory 24 Jan.

1253 The Prior went to law to recover 40/- per annum from Robert, rector at Shawes (Salisbury), which had not been paid for 6 years. The Prior won the case with costs against the rector of Shawes of 100/-.

1273 8th May. Lawrence was the abbot at Cerisy; Richard de Bordeignaise was prior elect at Pamber and was accompanied by Bartholomew Robyn.

1279 The ‘Statute of Mortmain’ forbade the leaving of money and possessions to the church; it was introduced by King Edward I in order to reduce the wealth and power of the religious orders.

1329 The Prior owed £26 to Thomas de Combe (clerk).

1337 The custody of the Priory was returned to the Prior at an annual rent to the King of £80 per annum.

1341 The ‘Hall of the Queen’s Scholars’ at Oxford founded by Queen Philippa and Robert de Eglesfield, chaplain to Queen Philippa, and named in her honour (see West window at All saints church in Monk Sherborne).

1343 Queen Philippa acquired St Julian’s Hospital in Southampton for The Queen’s College including its extensive lands, these lands later developed into Southampton Docks and associated commercial developments. During the period from about 1050AD to about 1300AD the weather had been generally beneficial to good crop yields; consequently the people prospered and the population grew rapidly.

1315 to 1322. The weather across Europe, north of the Alps, became very wet and stormy and there were major failures of many crops, especially cereals. This was the Great Famine of England (and the bulk of Northern Europe). There may also have been a major volcanic eruption that had disastrous effects on world climate. The Priory was severely affected and had great difficulties paying heavy taxation to the King.

1340 the Priory was described as being ‘grievously burdened with debt’. In July of that year the Priory was given immunity from seizure of its cattle by the Crown. Nicholas de la Beche and James de Wodestock were appointed overseers of the Priory.

1349 The Black Death killed some 30 to 40% of the population of England in less than a year (population dropped from about 3.5 million down to some 2.5 million, maybe even less). The Priory was severely affected.

1351 Denis was the Prior at Pamber. 14th Nov. John att More leased lands in Sherborne, Tadley and Pamber from the Prior for 32/- per annum, later increased to 36/- per annum (was the Priory in desperate need of funds?).

1380s The King (Richard II) continued(?) an annual tax of £80 on the Priory, payable to the King. In 1388 the Prior was in arrears of £53 from the annual payment of £80 to the Crown (annual income was £96). The Prior was ordered to settle the debt ‘forthwith’ to Menaudus Brocas (one of the keepers of the king’s great horses). Note the Brocas family lived at Beaurepaire and their tomb is in St Andrews Church in Sherborne St John.

1398-1437 William Trenchfowe was the Prior at Pamber.

1414 Suppression of the Alien Monasteries Act by King Henry V, but the Priory appears to have been largely excluded from the limitations put on other establishments. This may have been due to its poverty.

1439 Benedict became Prior at Pamber.

1439 21st Mar. Thomas att More promises £40 to the Priory as a Corody, but stipulates that it is void if he does not avail himself of the facility.

1441 Eton College construction was completed by King Henry VI ‘to provide an educated elite to rule the country’.

1451 Pamber Priory given to Eton College (did Eton need finance to run the College?) by King Henry VI of the House of Lancaster. Eton takes possession in January. 

1452 Eton College then ejects the Prior and the five monks, and sets about asset stripping and finishes up by largely destroying the Priory (only the chancel and tower survive).

1459 20th Nov. Confirmation of the Charter of Henry VI conferring Pamber Priory to Eton, made at Coventry.

1462(?) Following serious representations by the local population, the Priory was taken away from Eton College by King Edward IV of the House of York and given to St Julian’s Hospital in Southampton, also known as Domus Dei (which had come into the possession of The Queen’s College in Oxford in 1343).

1472 King Edward IV gave the Priory back to Eton College, but this was overturned by a ruling of the judiciary. Eton College went to court to recover what they considered to be rightfully theirs.

1474 After major repair work by The Queen’s College the Priory was re-consecrated as a church under the control of the vicar of Monk Sherborne with a curate at the Priory. The curate was paid a stipend of £10 per annum.

1491 2nd Oct. Eton College still trying to recover its lost possessions (including Whitchurch Manor); The Bishop of Salisbury, warden of God’s House, counter claims that Eton had broken the ‘Statute of Forcible Entry’.

1493 Pope Nicholas VIII confirmed the gift of Pamber to Eton in 1451 (or 1453), but this appears to have been ignored. Finally, after possibly 36 years of litigation (i.e. in 1399), Eton lost their claim!

Early1540’s One bell was cast (new installation or repair?).

1557-1564 Following the chaos of the Reformation, services at the Priory church ceased and it was claimed that it was being used as an agricultural store – for hay, straw, grain and implements; the use of farm carts in the chancel area could well have been the cause of damage to the tomb tops which were later re-located beneath the tower (behind the screen) and in the side chapels.

1557 At this time services were no longer being held at the Priory - presumably the curacy had ceased. A Bill of Complaint by Guy Ryce, Thomas Hyde, John Fuller and Phillip Wymboldon, on behalf of the parishioners of Pamber, was made to the Lord Chancellor. The complaint was forwarded to the Archbishop of York for a decision (the Archbishop of Canterbury was not available)

1564 Bill of Complaint continues in Chancery. 1564(?). Order in Chancery instructing The Queen’s College in Oxford to maintain the Priory Church in a condition whereby services could be held on a regular basis and that they must ensure that there is a qualified cleric available to hold those services. Much structural repair and material improvements made.

1567 6th June. Bill of Complaint goes to the Exchequer. 1567. 24th Nov. The Defendants (Queen’s College) are ordered to appear in Court – 8ve Hilary next.

1581 (approx). Four bells installed in tower (one cast in 1579, another in 1581 and the other two were removed in 1851 and, being cracked, were melted down and recast – one of these has the effigy of two monkeys cast into the bell supports, each monkey is about 5 inches high and they have their hands over their ears). The heaviest bell weighs about 8cwt (400 Kg).

1692 17 Dec. Peter Dalton, rector of Bramley, spent £32 on repairs at the Priory, with a further £3 still to be spent; these repairs were expected to last for the next 30 to 40 years.

1843-1852 Major repair work carried out by The Queen’s College, including re-roofing and the installation of stained glass throughout; some of the work was initiated by Sir Gilbert Scott.

1936 Further repair work was carried out by The College and most of the stained glass was removed, but not that in the four ‘bell’ windows located high up in the chancel. At the present time The Priory Church remains in the possession of The Queen’s College in Oxford and they are still bound by the Order in Chancery dated

1564 Two services are held here most months’ plus some additional services around Christmas and Easter, and is used by the adjacent Priory School for some of their special services.

Acknowledgements:

Moira Grant in Hampshire Studies Vol. 55, etc.

The Queen’s College Archive.

Hampshire County Records.