213 



€\)t Cjmrrfp nf $tmp. 



By Mr. Edwaed Kite. 



1. Gteneral Notice. 



2. The Church of St. John Baptist. 



3. Chantries in St. John's Church. 



4. Church of St. Mary the Virgin. 



5. Chantries in St. Mary's Church. 



6. Coventry Family. 



7. Abstract of Deeds relating to St. Mary's. 



8. Churchwardens' Accounts, with Notes. 



9. Hall's Letter about Church Plate. 

 10. Rectors of Devizes. 



General Notice. 



The town of Devizes contains two parish churches, 1 dedicated 

 respectively in honour of St. John the Baptist, and the Blessed 

 Virgin Mary. These are united, and form one Rectory in the 

 Diocese of Sarum, and patronage of the Lord Chancellor. 



Before describing them, it may be desirable to say a few words 

 respecting the early history of the town itself. 



Of this, little or nothing is with certainty known previously to 

 the commencement of the twelfth century, when the Episcopal See 

 which had been removed from Wilton to Old Sarum, by Bishop 

 Herman (c. a.d. 1076) was filled by Roger Poore, or as he is called 

 in Latin documents, Roger Pauper. 



1 That of Southbroom, or Devizes Green, dedicated to St. James, is a Chapel 

 of Ease under the parochial jurisdiction of Bishop's Cannings. 



2f 



