Planning Status

We now have planning permission from Wiltshire County Council for the first phase of our repair and restoration programme – details of the planning application can be found at this link to Planning Application PL/2025/05896.

The work includes:

Conversion of a small outbuilding to an accessible W.C. – This is an important first step as we continue to make our church a vital part of the Baydon community and will allow us to expand the building’s use, to make all villagers welcome and to house a wider range of events.

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

Restoration of low-level path lighting – Improving the lighting will make for safer access to the church, particularly in the winter evenings and will be done in a sympathetic way that minimizes light intrusion and protects the churchyard.

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

Re-roofing of the South Aisle and the Chancel – Those of you who have been in the village a long time will know that almost all the lead has been stolen from the church. The first theft happened in 1975 and again in 2019. Using generous donations and insurance proceeds, the Nave and North Aisle were re-covered in 2012 and 2019, using modern materials that match the appearance of lead and have a very long life. However, the Chancel and South Aisle are still covered by felt, which was only ever intended as a temporary repair. As a result, during our carol service in December 2025, water was dripping into buckets. The ingress of water and damp is impacting the fabric of the building, including the oldest and most historically significant parts of the church and so this repair is one of our highest priorities.

Vestry - The vestry is tucked away behind the church and many people may not have noticed it. A Victorian addition to the church, the stonework is decaying due to damp penetration and the slate roof is in disrepair. We plan to repair the stonework and carry out roofing and guttering to arrest further deterioration.