St Augustine's Church, Even Swindon

The church was built in 1907 to serve the spiritual needs of people moving to Swindon for employment at the Great Western Railway Works.

On 26 October 1904, Rev Henry Harvey was licensed as missionary curate in St Augustine's district.

The foundation stone of St Augustine's was laid on 13 April 1907 amid much ceremony, and was the first time that the Freemasons in Wiltshire were involved in a church service.

A shortfall in funding meant that the side aisles, porches, bell tower and further chapels were not built.

It is one of the few churches in the south of England, and one of two in Swindon, to be built in the basilica style, and consists of a large nave of six wide bays and a small polygonal apse, with a walled choir surrounded by aisles.

The first, Eclesia stands for the church – and the carving is of the crowned Divine Bride, holding the sacred chalice and killing evil (depicted as a serpent) with the stem of the cross.

The triptychs are of the Virgin Mary and Child, and St Augustine holding a model of the current church.

[8] The poppies were made by pupils of Even Swindon Primary School and church members, and hung on thin lines so that they appeared to float above the congregation and visitor alike.

Other displays included a cascade of knitted poppies over the font and from the high altar, "There but Not There" silhouettes, and information on the local men who never came home.

[9] Photos of the displays were included in most UK national newspapers and the church was used by BBC Points West for a live broadcast of their evening news programme on 9 November 2018, the Friday before Remembrance Sunday.