St Nicholas

The church was consecrated on the 4th November of that year by Robert, Bishop of London. This perfect little Georgian church is the only one in Wiltshire and is widely considered to be a gem of its period. 

The old parish church of Hardenhuish, recorded in contemporary documents as 'Norman' and 'a chapel', was demolished around 1778. It stood about 200 metres in front of and below the present Hardenhuish House. Records show that Richard de Kanyggs was instituted to this benefice in 1299. Stones from that church were used in the footings of the present St Nicholas church.

St Nicholas church was built at the 'fole Expence' of Joseph Colborne, then owner of Hardenhuish House and Park. Just beyond the east end of the church stands the Ricardo Monument, built over a vault containing the coffins of nine members of the Ricardo family. David Ricardo was born of Jewish stock on 19th April 1772. He started work at the Stock Exchange at the age of 14, and married Miss Wilkinson, a Quaker, at the age of 21 and became a Unitarian, by which time he was well established in the financial world. His ability, and above all his integrity became well known. By the time he had reached his forties he had amassed the then enormous sum of one million pounds, made fairly and honestly (at least according to the standards of that time). He is famous for his papers and treatise on economics and was the first to propose the control of money supply and credit. He became an MP and died on 11th September 1823 at Gatcombe Park. His daughter, Henrietta, married into the Clutterbuck family, which had taken up residence in Hardenhuish House in the previous year.

Against the south wall of the church is an iron slatted seat where Robert Francis Kilvert, the diarist, loved to sit and admire the view in tranquility. Of his diaries only those for the years 1870-79 survive, but these give a unique picture of Victorian life. He was born on 3rd December 1840 in the Rectory opposite, one of six children of Revd Robert Kilvert, Rector of Hardenhuish at the time. In 1863 he was ordained Deacon and became a Priest the following year. He was curate to the neighbouring parish of Langley Burrell to which his father had moved in 1885. For the years 1865-72 Francis served as curate to the Vicar of Clyro in Powys before returning to Langley Burrell for another four years. While serving as Vicar of Bredwardine in Herefordshire, he died suddenly from peritonitis at the early age of 38 on 23rd September 1879, only a month after his marriage.

Perhaps the most prominent feature is the chancel, where The Lord's Prayer, The Ten Commandments and The Apostles' Creed are written in gold leaf for all to see and read. In spite of this dark background, the church is full of light and its classical proportions give a pleasing and almost cosy effect. The musicians' gallery over the West end would have held a small band in the earlier years of the church's history.