Curry Rivel probably grew up around the Green before the Romans came.  There was a church in Curry Rivel at the time of the Doomsday survey in 1086.  However, the village lay between two ancient monastic houses, so there may well have been a church on this site long before the Norman Conquest.  The oldest surviving part of the Church is to be found in the North Chapel, which contains 13th century and early 14th century work, although it is probable that this was built on the remains of a much earlier Saxon building.  The Chapel contains the tomb of Sabina Revel who died in 1254 and who was the last of the family from which the village takes its name.

In its present form the Church dates from the late 15th century, but the Chancel was shortened in the 18th century and the East wall rebuilt.  The tower was demolished and rebuilt in 1861, being shorter than the original.

The Church has undergone several restorations and changes over the years. Drawings exist that show the interior of the Church in 1765.  Large family ‘stalls’ predominate, surrounding a massive 3-decker pulpit built in the centre of the nave.  For those unable to afford a family stall, a gallery was suspended against the West wall.  No trace of this now remains.

During the major restoration between1861-1865, the existing pews were installed, filling the body of the Church and the North Chapel.  The latter enabled the physical segregation of children from the main congregation !  The 16th century pew-ends were imported from another building, and the stone pulpit was donated in 1863 replacing an earlier mahogany pulpit.

Three bells were added to the original 5 in 1897. The oldest is dated circa 1510, and they were re-hung in 1956.

In 1915 the North Chapel was restored, the floor being lowered to its original level and the ceiling replaced.
The fine oak choir stalls and organ case date from 1956, and the Baptistery was constructed in 1969, the font originally being situated at the Northwest corner of the nave.

The present St. Andrew’s is included in ‘England’s Thousand Best Churches’ by Simon Jenkins (published by Allan Lane Penguin Press).
Visitors remember it for the handsome entrance porch, the Ham-stone carvings of musicians and comic grotesques; and for the light welcoming interior. To the North of the Curch, within the perimeter of the churchyard and on grounds donated by St. Andrew’s, lies the Old School Room, formerly the Village School.  It was built in 1828 at a total cost of £127 8s 4d, raised from public subscription.  Following its closure in 2005 due to health and safety concerns about the roof structure, a volunteer Committee was formed to raise funds to reopen the building.

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