St Mary's Church, Old Dilton

Church with a curious spire near the White Horse

The fourteenth-century St Mary's lies down a pretty wooded lane near the river Biss, on one of the many walking paths to the Westbury White Horse.

This delightful little church is approached through a railway arch that opens out onto a simple churchyard, revealing an unusual church - squat yet pretty, with a tiny stone spire like an inverted ice cream cone.

Inside, little has changed since the eighteenth century and is crowded with plain, bleached box pews, some built on the original Medieval benches, a three-decker pulpit, family pews and two small galleries. The gallery north of the chancel was once used as a schoolroom and contains a fireplace.

Please click here for a free audio guided tour

St Mary's church features in our Wiltshire Medieval Graffiti Tour on Google Earth.

St Mary's is approached on a small lane, and is situated on a sharp bend. Parking is very limited.

You will need to collect a key from a local keyholder before visiting this church. For more information, please contact the Regional Office at west@thecct.org.uk.

St Mary's is a beautiful and very historic site, but because of this historic nature requires careful navigation. The church does not have step-free access, with one step up into the churchyard and two steps down into the church, and walkways inside and outside are uneven. In very wet weather the churchyard path may be slippery.

There is no electricity at St Mary's Church - please visit during daylight hours, and be aware that even on bright days the church can be dimly lit.

Visitors can access the church by passing through a gate in the NE corner of the churchyard. Follow the path through the churchyard to the wide south porch. Use the door in the porch to enter the nave and feel free to explore! 

There are no toilets on site.

This church is cared for by local volunteers who ensure it can be open for members of the public. If you would like to get involved at this site and help fundraise for its maintenance please do get in touch with your Local Community Officer by emailing pwood@thecct.org.uk.

Useful local links

• Visit Wiltshire website
• Wiltshire Family History Society
• Wiltshire Archaeological & Natural History Society
• Diocese of Salisbury

St Mary's is located in the White Horse Benefice. You can find out more about them and the other churches in the area by visiting: White Horse Team - A Church Near You

This church is situated just off the A350, 3 miles north of Warminster. The nearest railway station is Dilton Marsh, 1.6 miles away.