During the Middle Ages there were three monastic establishments and no less than seven Chapels, none of which survive. One of the latter, a small Nunnery in Burnevale, although a "Lady Abbesse" is mentioned, was closed down in the thirteenth century for immorality with the troops. Of the survivors, the Benedictine Abbey is obvious, but about a mile down the Cirencester Road is Whitchurch Farm originally the Carthusian, or "White Friars" Monastery.

This was bought by one Captain Ivye in 1675, who pulled down the "pretty steeple" and most of the outbuildings, to build the present farm. At the other end of the town, on the Chippenham side, is the remains of the old Priory of St. John of Jerusalem, by the Town Bridge. The fine old Gothic Arch, built in the 13th century, was originally the gateway, but what is left was transformed into Alms Houses for poor women by Michael Weeks in 1694, but this fell into disrepair recently, but is now being restored for the same purpose.

Circa 1265 a historic event took place here, which might well be claimed to have been a forerunner of the Reformation. A dispute occurred between the Prior (or Master, as he was also called) and Brothers of St. John of Jerusalem and the Vicar of the Parish of St. Pauls, then the lay Church of Malmesbury. The Vicar appealed to the Bishop of Salisbury and won his case with the order that noone not wearing the vestments of the Order might take Divine Office in the Chapel of the Priory.

This naturally caused friction and this smouldered on until nearly 125 years afterwards, in 1389, after another quarrel between the Prior and the Vicar, the town took a hand. The Vicar was the nominee of the Abbot of Malmesbury who was at loggerheads with the towns-folk at that time. The Chapel of St. John has always been looked upon as being the town's "gratitude to their Patron, King Athelstan" and prayers were said daily to his memory, that of his spouse, the souls of the Kings of England, and for the Alderman and Burgesses of the Borough.

The townsfolk did an unheard of thing, by defying the Bishop, the Abbot and the whole Catholic Church, and dared to appoint their own Chaplain to take charge of their own personal Chapel. This of course, was sacrilege and it is amazing how they got away with it. It might therefore be said to be the first case of non-conformism in the country.

However, they built a house for their own private priest and gave him, out of their own goods, a salary, for him and his successors, and supplied "a mysall, a portos (breviary, a graiell (book of offices), a chalys, two pairs of vestments with the necessary towels, etc." This non-conformist structure actually lasted for another 150 years, all expenses being paid by the Old Corporation, and noone was ever excommunicated for the offence.

The two "lay" churches were always that of St. Pauls, facing the Abbey entrance, with its beautiful steeple and campanile, with the remains still to be seen built into the back of the shops skirting the "Birdcage Walk.") The other was the truly beautiful Westport, destroyed during the Civil War, so the present one dates from after this catastrophy. The Abbey Church is, of course, now the present Anglican Church and there are three Non-Conformist and one Roman Catholic Church.

Next door to the old Priory of St. John is the old Court House of the Old Corporation which can be viewed by permission. The oldest Minute Book extant is only dated 1600 and, as previously mentioned, the first meeting held there was in 1616, and have been so held ever since. On the dias, the old Alderman's Chair, a `modern one' dated 1842 and some fine coats of arms (of previous High Stewards) are on the walls, alas none of the important ones, and mainly eighteenth century. On the floor is an old chest, by the screen with its little seat, on which the Sergeant sits to keep order during sessions. This is locked by six locks, all numbered, which require all six keys to open it.