The
first
documentary
evidence
is
contained
in
Domesday
and
is
a
record
of
a
gift
of
land
to
the
church.
The
record
reads
that
in
1085
Humphrey
the
Chamberlain
gave
half
a
hide
(roughly
seventy
acres)
to
the
church.
A
fragment
of
this
gift
of
nearly
nine
centuries ago existed in our century and is known as “
Clerke's Acre
”, i.e. Priest's Acre.
Over
the
years
various
renovations
have
been
carried
out.
Sometime
in
the
fifteenth
century
the
nave
and
tower
were
pulled
down
and
new
ones
in
the
Perpendicular
style
of
the
time
were
erected.
The
tower
still
remains
and
the
aisle-less
nave
was
extended
to
about
two
thirds
of
the
present
nave.
In
the
eighteenth
century
a
small
window
was
put
in
between
the
porch
and
the
tower.
The
chancel
and
nave
were
filled
with
large
square
pews
all
held
by
the
farmers
and
there
were
benches
for
“the
others”.
Stourpaine
must
have
passed
through
some
distressing
times
in
subsequent
years
as
sadly
the
church
became
dilapidated.
The
severity
of
the
dilapidation
was
such
that
during
the
19th
century
it
was
decided
to
call
in
T.H.Wyatt.
He
pronounced
that
with
the
exception of the tower, complete rebuilding was necessary.
Many
repairs
have
been
undertaken
in
the
20th
Century.
Floorboards
at
the
rear
of
the
church
were
replaced
due
to
beetle
infestation.
The
War
Memorial
was
moved
into
the
churchyard
when
the
main
road
was
widened
in
the
1970s.
Two
choir
stalls
have
been
removed,
altar
frontals
replaced
and
most
recently
the
major
renovation
of
the
Grade
II
listed
Lychgate
.
Today
Holy
Trinity
is
well
maintained
and
plays
a
prominent
role
in
the
life
of
Stourpaine
.
There
is
an
active
band
of
bell
ringers
and
the
work
amongst
the
children
of
the
village
is
flourishing.
There
is
at
least
one
service
every
Sunday,
utilising
both
the
modern
forms
of
Common
Worship
and
the
well-loved
traditional
services
from
the
Book
of
Common
Prayer.
A
small
group
of
worshippers
meets
every Friday for evening prayer and the church is open every day during daylight hours for private prayer and reflection.