West Harnham, Wiltshire

St. George (parish church)

The church of St. George is an ancient building of stone, flint and brick, dating from about the 12th century, and consists of chancel, nave, south chapel, south porch and a tower on the north side containing 2 bells: the chancel is entered by a fine Decorated arch and contains some remarkable corbels, a good piscina and a Norman window: the sanctuary is adorned with five paintings, the gift of A. Weigall esq. of The Close, Salisbury. The nave has a Norman window on the north and the bowl of an Early English font: at the south-east corner is a remarkable structure, said to be the remains of an ancient stone altar, and on which the south pillar of the chancel arch is built: behind it are considerable traces of an ancient wall painting in a niche: the south chapel contains a good piscina and a splayed low side window: two corbels in the east wall of the chapel are adorned with an "Entombment" and a "Presentation," carved in oak, the gift of the Rev. G. H. Bourne D.C.L. treasurer and prebendary of Salisbury Cathedral, and in the chapel now stands the Jacobean altar-table of oak, formerly in the chancel: a Jacobean oak screen divides the chapel from the nave: the south porch contains several old inscriptions: the church was restored in 1873 under the direction of Mr. Wyatt, architect, and has sittings for 150 persons.