A note about St. Swithin. He was a trusted friend and advisor to King Ecgbert, his son King Aethelwulf and grandson, King Alfred. He had a tremendous beneficial influence on developments in England including the reforms carried out by King Alfred. NOTE the important event in English history 829AD. Ecgbert, King of Mercia, led his men along the border of Mercia to Dote, where King Eanred and his Northumbrians waited. The latter offered obedience and allegiance; there was no battle. The treaty that was signed was the event, which made England one Kingdom.
Swithin taught Aethelwulf in his youth. When King, he made Swithin Bishop of Winchester, which was the capital at that time. He was a revered Bishop, renowned for his interest and skill in building in stone. Swithin was a man of piety and learning. He was buried where he had asked, outside the west wall of his cathedral so that the feet of his people could pass over him and the rain from the eaves fall on his grave. He died in 862 and was canonised by popular acclaim about the year 931.
The use of stone (of which we have plenty), had been encouraged by Swithin and Alfred's reforms promoted local leaders (ceorls) who acquired various specified properties to become "Thegns" (Lords). These included building a church in stone with belfry, a mill, brewery and bakehouse. The "Angel Inn" was the old brewing house for the Lord of the Manor, the bakehouse was at Cartledge and the mill in Millthorpe. The origin of the church as property of the Lord of the Manor is certain; Holmesfield had a "Thegn" many years before the Norman conquest, and so it can be suggested that the church may have been built at that time.