Extension plans at Devizes listed church

12:00pm Sunday 23rd December 2012 in News

The authorities at St Mary’s Church have applied for planning permission to build a cloister extension to the medieval listed building in New Park Street, Devizes.

The parochial church council hopes the new building will enable them to bring the redundant church back into use as a community venue.

The proposed extension will house toilets, changing spaces, meeting rooms and facilities for catering, storage and administration. This will leave the nave of the church free to be opened out and used for activities such as performances and exhibitions.

The Revason, vicar of St John’s and St Mary’s, said: “The interior of St Mary’s is absolutely beautiful. To build facilities within the church would destroy its ambience.”

The PCC applied in 2006 for the church to be declared redundant but the Diocese of Salisbury asked them to look for alternative uses for the building. Architects Batterham Matthews came up with the new plans after feedback from a public meeting in 2008.

St Mary’s featured in the 1967 film of Far From the Madding Crowd when Fanny Robin, played by Prunella Ransome, waits to be married at St Mary’s while her intended, Sergeant Troy, played by Terence Stamp, is waiting at St John’s.

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