St Nicholas Fyfield is listed in the Domesday Book 1086 A.D. The church as it currently stands certainly dates from the 14th Century and was believed to have Saxon foundations. We now understand that the earlier Anglo Saxon church contained some remarkable Celtic carved images of the Holy Trinity. St Nicholas church was originally a chapelry of West Overton and became its own parish in 1704.

However, recent historical investigations into the churches of the Upper Kennet Benefice have revealed a far richer heritage than originally understood. The churches of the Benefice, including Fyfield, were used by pilgrims on their way to Bristol, where they took the sherry boats to Spain, and continued their walk to Compostela di Santiago, then onwards to Rome and Jerusalem.

Sometime circa the year 1632, Fyfield was led by the first of several puritanical priests who stripped out the trappings of what they perceived as ‘popish heresy’ and in doing so denuded the church of a great deal of its earlier internal heritage. The ceiling, frieze and carvings have been identified as being considerably older than the date of 1634 carved above the entrance to the Chancel, and architectural remnants indicate that once a large cross hung over the entrance to the Chancel. A carved frieze running around the entire nave dates from the 17th century.

Fortunately, these fanatically puritan priests did not remove one of the most rare and special depictions of the Holy Trinity in a roof-carving. High above the Nave are wooden carved cross beam sections, each of which is of one piece. The entire carving, of Celtic origin, is a symbol of the Trinity and was incorporated into the roof circa 9th Century. The Trinity is depicted as making the universe spin with their passion and love.

The date 1634 carved in the cross beam over the Chancel marks a line between the puritan preacher in a puritan place ending the struggle against High Church priestly rule. This battle takes place during the time of Archbishop of Canterbury, William Laud. His High Church policy, support for Charles I, censorship of the press, and persecution of the Puritans aroused bitter opposition.

Originally, the entrance to the church was approximately 8-10 feet above current floor level and those entering the church did so through the elevated West Door, descending into the church. It is no wonder explorers failed to find the classic pilgrim graffiti marks on the lower walls of the Vestry area for they were some 15-20 feet above our heads, carved with dagger points as they passed in and out.