About Us

St Martin’s Church is an Anglican Church founded in the 12th Century by the important and powerful Abbey of Malmesbury, it sits at the top of a hill looking towards the white horse of Cherhill to the south, the old trading route through the market towns of Calne and Chippenham and the Cotswolds to the north west . Its church tower houses six bells, the oldest from the 17th century, rung by a dedicated group of experienced ringers on Sundays, at weddings, funerals and other occasions.

The parish includes the villages of Bremhill, Charlcut, Spirt Hill, Bremhill Wick and East Tytherton. It is a rural parish surrounded by fields and farmland. Each of the villages extends along either side of the lanes and was an active farming community; Bremhill itself had 4 farms 50 years ago, as did Bremhill Wick. In the intervening years, the dairy farms have been mostly lost and the villages have gradually become home to affluent, educated professionals. Property prices are preventing a younger generation from purchasing homes in the parish, although East Tytherton has been able to welcome several young families recently, taking advantage of rental properties and a new development of barn conversions. There are also some Housing Association properties, some of which are coming onto the market at affordable prices.

Communication in the parish is supported by the monthly newsletter, which provides information about local businesses, church services and activities, as well as contributions from residents which both entertain and provide interesting insights into local lives. Whatsapp groups also provide well-used channels of communication, including a Neighbourhood Watch group. Each Friday throughout the year Coffee and Cake mornings in the village hall attract a lively group of participants providing another useful means of communication and social interaction, involving a varied group of volunteer bakers. On-line Advent and Lenten calendars with daily contributions from parishioners were well-received and supported during the pandemic.

The village halls offer space for fundraising events throughout the year with special Lunches, Cheese and Wine gatherings, quizes, fetes, Christmas fairs, wreath-making, a plant stall, Harvest suppers, Soup and Puds, Raffles and Rural Arts, including Open Studios for local artists. The funds support St Martin's Church, East Tytherton Village hall Building Fund and local charities. The committed, vibrant community ensures good attendance at these events. The Friends of St. Martin is a long established vehicle for raising funds for local causes, hiring out a marquee for events and holding an annual auction of promises. 

The parish takes pride in its history, recently producing an award-winning book about the families, houses and farms here, funded by the Heritage Fund and the Wiltshire Museum. with a dedicated group of parish researchers. Looking to the future, there is also an active group of environmental enthusiasts, Bremzero, which meets regularly to give advice about recycling and introducing more zero carbon energy sources to the parish. The new Tytherton Village hall is planned to have ground source heating and photo-voltaic panels.

The challenges for St. Martin's share much with other churches, such as the gradual secularisation of society and the effects of the Covid pandemic, which have resulted in a loss of worshippers and revenue. The on-going maintenance issues presented by an 800 year old church building are a priority for the PCC to create a dry, warm space for parishioners with a proper drainage system. Plans for re-ordering the church to allow events such as concerts and art exhibitions have been progressing to expand its use in creative ways and to reach out to a new set of participants. Recent services held outside in Bremhill village square have successfully served to take the church to the people. The PCC is also committed to sharing services and exchanging ideas for Mission with other churches in the Benefice creating a collaborative environment. A Church leaflet describing the history of St. Martin's, its artefacts and windows has been completed, which can be found in the church.

This is a community which is welcoming and vibrant, where people look out for each other, offer help and extend the hand of friendship to all. Bremhill and the surrounding villages are small enough for everyone to know or know of everyone which fosters the caring environment.

In October 2010 at a service of inauguration led by The Right Reverend Stephen Conway, the Bishop of Ramsbury, the parishes of Derry Hill, Bremhill and Foxham combined with that of Calne and Blacklands to form the Marden Vale Team Ministry.