St Andrew's Church, Chippenham

St Andrew's Church, in Chippenham, Wiltshire, England, is a Church of England parish church. It is one of four Anglican parish churches in the town, and serves the south and east of Chippenham. The church is situated in the Market Place, beside the town centre, and is Grade II* listed.St Andrew's is a large church, with a wide nave, separated from a long chancel by a wooden, early 20th century screen. There is a Lady Chapel to the southeast of the chancel which is the oldest part of the church. There are two nave aisles, both of substantial width. A side chapel adjoining the south aisle is used as a Baptistry - it is also known as St Katherine's Chapel. There is a notable monument near the west end of the south aisle, to the Prynne family.HistoryThe church has 12th-century origins but was largely rebuilt in the 15th century, including the addition of the ornate south chapel which was built in 1442 for Walter, Lord Hungerford. The tower has a base from the 14th century but the rest was rebuilt in 1633. The church was restored in 1875-78, when the roof was raised, the chancel extended and the interior rearranged. A vestry was added in 1907.The tower's eight bells were cast in 1734.Traces remain of a west gallery, which, prior to the reordering in the 1870s, contained the Seede organ. The gallery was taken down when the organ was enlarged and moved to the east end of the north aisle. There was also a gallery in St Katherine's Chapel, also no longer in existence, though supporting stones for it can still be seen in the interior walls.ServicesSt Andrew’s is the Civic church of Chippenham, and an annual Civic Service is celebrated each September. The annual Remembrance Sunday service (starting in the church and ending at the town's War Memorial in the Market Place), and the annual Christmas Carol Service on Christmas Eve are also very well attended, and music at all of these is provided by the church's main, robed choir.