The large parish church of St Katharine’s lies past Ham Green, beside The Courts, the National Trust gardens in the centre of the village. The church is of considerable historical interest. Holt was first mentioned at the time of King Stephen (1135-1154), and records show that the Abbot of Shaftesbury, donated land for the church in Holt in the early twelfth century.
The building, dedicated to St Katharine whose November 25th festival was celebrated here as far back as 1252, has since been extensively rebuilt - the last major work being early Victorian from 1833 onwards.
However, the oldest part - the fifteenth century belltower - remains, complete with six bells (one a rare chisel-tuned bell struck around 1450) that are still rung on a regular basis by the church’s flourishing team.
The church is steeped in history. Christians have been worshipping and praying on this site since Gundrada, the daughter of William the Conqueror, gave the chapel of Broughton to the Abbey at Shaftesbury. Gunrada died in 1085 and the Abbesses of Shaftesbury remained patrons of the chapel until 1539 when the patronage was given to the Crown - now represented by the Lord Chancellor.
The present church dates from the 13th century but has been substantially altered over the years. The most recent major repairs were undertaken between 1848 and 1878.
The rural hamlet of Great Chalfield is centred round the late medieval Manor of the same name, which was restored in 1905-11 and given to the National Trust in 1943.
The parish church is earlier, and was enhanced by Thomas Tropnell, who built the Manor in 1460. Surrounding Great Chalfield and Little Chalfield are five farms, and several outlying houses and cottages.