St Giles' Church, Imber
Wiltshire
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About this church
A church left over from a ghost village
This lovely thirteenth-century church stands in rolling downland deep inside the military training area of Salisbury Plain. It is all that remains of the ghost village of Imber (now just abandoned houses), which was evacuated for military training purposes in 1943.
The distinctive fourteenth-century tower has five pinnacles. The interior, divested of its fittings, allows you to appreciate the architecture and atmosphere of this unique church, as well as the remains of medieval wallpaintings with a rare depiction of the Seven Deadly Sins, and a set of seventeenth-century bell ringing changes painted on the north wall of the tower.
Outside the sloping churchyard contains fine seventeenth and eighteenth-century tomb chests.
This church is only open occasionally to visitors. For more information, please visit: http://www.imberchurch.org.uk
St Giles' church features in our Wiltshire Medieval Graffiti Tour on Google Earth.
Access Information
Limited opening dictated by Army when range inoperative. Access is from a lane up a steep grass track to the churchyard gate. The path continues up the slope to the north porch, with 2 steps up to the stone paved porch floor.
More information about access can be found here: St Giles Church Imber.
Facilities & Hire
Due to the historic nature of this church and its location it has no electricity or toilets.
- Church available for hire
Directions
7 miles from Warminster, off A362.
Transport
Nearest station: Westbury (5.9 miles).
History & further information
Why not make your visit more enjoyable and informed by finding out more about this church before you visit? You can download a range of publications below including the relevant county guide, and any walk round guides we have for this church.
St Giles' church features in our Wiltshire Medieval Graffiti Tour on Google Earth.
This free of charge short guide contains details of all the churches we care for in Wiltshire. Printed copies of the county guide are also available at the church.
Download a free copy of St Giles' Church Walk Round Guide.
Community information
Click the link above to download a copy of the Church Plan which sets out the shared vision for the future of the church. This is a working document that will be updated on a regular basis. If you have any feedback or if you want to contact us about the church plan please drop us a line. When you write, please do give the name of the church, thank you!
All our Wiltshire churches are in our West region.
The Friends of St Giles
The Friends of St Giles assist with opening the church on designated days throughout the year, running events, providing refreshments and raising funds towards the upkeep of the church. The Churches Conservation Trust is most grateful to the Friends for their support.
The Imberbus
Probably England's obscurest bus route, the 23A is run by volunteers and runs one day a year to the lost village of Imber, offering the chance to visit St Giles' Church by vintage London Routemaster bus.
Useful local links:
