The Parish Church of St. Augustine of Canterbury is an Anglican church in Even Swindon (also known locally as Rodbourne), an area of the town of Swindon, Wiltshire. A parish church, in Christianity, is the church which acts as the religious centre of a Parish, the basic administrative unit of episcopal churches Augustine of Canterbury OSB (born c first third of the 6th century - died 26 May 604 was a Benedictine Monk who became the first Archbishop Anglicanism is a tradition of Christian faith Churches in this tradition either have historical connections to the Church of England or have similar beliefs Swindon ( is a large town in the ceremonial county of Wiltshire in the South West of England, midway between Bristol (64 km / 40 miles Swindon ( is a large town in the ceremonial county of Wiltshire in the South West of England, midway between Bristol (64 km / 40 miles Etymology The county formerly 'Wiltonshire' or 'Wiltunscir' (9th century is named after the former county town of Wilton (itself named after the River Wylye The church was built to serve the spiritual needs of people moving to Swindon because of the Great Western Railway Works. The Great Western Railway ( GWR) was a British railway company and a notable example of Civil engineering, linking London with the West
The Beginning
In what is thought to be a former church schoolroom built around 1873, the Rodbourne Cheney District Room became a mission chapel in the early 1880's within the parish of St Mary Rodbourne Cheney. The inventory records that the licence holding Divine Services was acquired on 2nd April, 1881. The earliest known record of a baptism dates from 1885.
The Rev W Mould, vicar of St Mary's and also chaplain to Queen Victoria, found difficulty in covering services at the chapel and made arrangements St Mark's Church (another 'railway' church) to cover services and pastoral work.
On 26th October 1904, Rev Henry Harvey was licenced as missionary curate in St Augustine's district. He went on to serve the church in Rodbourne for a total of 29 years, and was made Honorary Chaplain to the Bishop and on completion of 25 years' service, was made an Honorary Canon of Bristol Cathedral.
The current priest in charge is Revd Canon Alastair Stevenson
Building and Consecration
The foundation stone of St Augustine's was laid on 13th April 1907 amid much ceremony, and was the first time that the Freemasons in Wiltshire were involved in a church service. Building commenced at the East End and the church in its current state was consecrated on 25th January 1908.
The bricks were paid for by the parishoners and cost one old penny each. Sadly, money ran out and the side aisles, porches, bell tower and further chapels were never completed.
The church is approximately 120 ft long, 40 ft wide and the nave roof reaches about 50ft. The Apse arch is about 30 feet high.
Music
The church has a strong musical tradition, the choir of the early days consisted of a choir of men and boys numbering nearly 50. Women were allowed into the choir for the first time in the mid 1970's. The choir presented the nameplate of the steam engine "Westminster Abbey" to the cohirboys there, and it can still be seen in the choir school to this day.
There are two organs, a pipe organ of two manuals and 12 stops which is no longer used, and a two manual digital organ of 33 speaking stops. This organ was donated to the church in 2003 and the church has had two recitals by Professor Ian Tracey, Organist Titulaire of Liverpool Anglican Cathedral.
The speakers of the digital organ are positioned high up in the organ loft, about 30 feet above the North stalls of the choir.
Church Website