The Churches of Britain and Ireland

  Dorset

Dorset on Wikipedia.


Abbotsbury, St. Nicholas. Link. St. Catherine's Chapel (originally part of the abbey). Link. Both © Derek Jordan, and both are on an external web-site. An old postcard view, from Steve Bulman's Collection.
Affpuddle, St. Lawrence. © Bill McKenzie. Another view. © June Norris. Link.
Alderholt, St. James. Another view. As Roger points out, the stepped gable is very unusual outside of Scotland, and in this case the 12 steps are probably symbolic of the apostles. Link.
Almer, St. Mary. © Mike Rice. Another view, from an old postcard in Reg Dosell's Collection. Another view, and an interior view, both © Roger Hopkins. Roger rates this C12 church very highly.
Athelhampton, St. Edward King and Martyr (formerly St. John). © June Norris. Link.

Bere Regis, St. John the Baptist. © Bill Henderson. Another view. Interior view. A charming C15 roof carving. The story of the Turberville family, commemorated in the Turberville window, is famous as the inspiration for Hardy's "Tess of the D'Urbervilles". The wealthy Turberville family lived in Bere Regis. All © Roger Hopkins. Link.
Bettiscombe, St. Stephen. © June Norris. Link.
Bishop's Caundle, Parish Church. © June Norris.
Blackdown, Holy Trinity. ST 396 030. © Julie Baker.
Blandford Forum, St. Peter and St. Paul. Interior view. Detail of the tower. All © Roger Hopkins. Link.
Blandford St. Mary, St. Mary. © June Norris. Link.
Bothenhampton, Holy Trinity New Church. From an old postcard in Reg Dosell's Collection. Link.
Bournemouth.
Bradford Abbas, St. Mary. A detail from the pulpit. Both © Gene Hawkins.
Branksome, St. Aldhelm. © Roger Hopkins. Link.
Bridport.
Broadwindsor, St. John the Baptist. © June Norris. Link.
Brownsea Island, St. Mary. 195 SZ 028 877. © Dave Westrap. Another view. Interior view. Both © Roger Hopkins. Link1. Link2. Link3.
Bryanston, St. Martin, dating from 1898. Standing in the grounds of Bryanston Public School, it was constructed using stone from the demolished Bryanstone House (1778). Interior view. The roof is constructed from the ballroom floor of the House. All © Roger Hopkins.

Cann, the former St. Rumbold, now Shaftesbury School Chapel Arts Centre. From an old postcard in Reg Dosell's Collection, and thanks to Kevin Price for providing the dedication and current usage. Link.
Chalbury, All Saints. © June Norris.
Charlton Marshall, St. Mary the Virgin. © June Norris. Link.
Charminster, St. Mary the Virgin. SY 679 928. Another view. Both © Les Needham. Link.
Charmouth, St. Andrew. © Graeme Harvey. Link.
Chideock, St. Giles. © Graeme Harvey. Link.
Child Okeford, St. Nicholas. © June Norris. An old postcard view (on which it is spelled Childe Okeford) from Reg Dosell's Collection.
Christchurch, the Priory Church. From an old postcard, Bulman Collection. A modern view, and another. Both © Graeme Harvey. Link.
Compton Abbas, St. Mary. © June Norris.
Corfe Castle, St. Edward King and Martyr. © Bill McKenzie. Another view. © Malcolm Matthews. A view of the church from the castle, and an interior view, both © Roger Hopkins. Roger advises that the church suffered much during the siege of the castle in the English Civil War, and was heavily "restored" in Victorian times.
Corfe Mullen, St. Hubert. © June Norris. Link.
Cranborne, St. Mary and St. Bartholomew. Another view. Interior view. A splendid wall-painting. Tregonwell window. All © Roger Hopkins. Link.

Damerham, St. George. © Bill McKenzie.
Dorchester.
Durweston, St. Nicholas. © June Norris. Another view. © Roger Hopkins. Link.

Enmore Green, St. John the Evangelist (1843) sits in an idyllic position on the slopes of Shaftesbury's ancient hill fort. © Roger Hopkins.

Fontmell Magna, St. Andrew. © June Norris. Another view, interior view, and the St. George window. All © Roger Hopkins. An old postcard view, from Reg Dosell's Collection. Link.
Fordington, St, George. © June Norris. Link.
Frampton, St. Mary. © Graeme Harvey. Link.

Gillingham, St. Mary the Virgin. ST 806 265. Methodist Church. ST 808 265. Both © Andrew Ross.

Highcliffe, St. Mark. From an old postcard, Geoff Watt's Collection.
Hinton Martell, St. John the Evangelist. © June Norris.

Iwerne Courtney, St. Mary. © June Norris.
Iwerne Minster, St. Mary. © June Norris. Another view, from an old postcard in Reg Dosell's Collection.

Kingston, St. James. © Bill McKenzie.
Kingston Lacy, St. Stephen. © Bill McKenzie.
Knowlton ruined church. © Bill McKenzie.

Langton Long, All Saints. © June Norris. Another view. © Roger Hopkins.
Langton Matravers, St. George. © Bill McKenzie.
Lulworth, St. Mary (R.C., 1768) at Lulworth Castle. © Roger Hopkins.
Lyme Regis, St. Michael the Archangel. © Gary Cook. Interior view, from an old postcard in Christopher Skottowe's Collection. Link. Baptist Church. SY 340 921. © Ken Taylor. Link.
Lytchett Minster, the church has no dedication. © Bill Henderson. Another view, and an interior view, both © Roger Hopkins. U.R.C. © Bill Henderson.

Marshwood, St. Mary. Another view. SY 382 996. Both © Julie Baker.
Melbury Abbas, St. Thomas. © June Norris.
Milborne St. Andrew, St. Andrew. © June Norris. Link1. Link2.
Minterne Magna, St. Andrew. Interior view. The beautiful Napier Monument. The church also holds a tomb of the Churchill family. All © Roger Hopkins. Link.
Moreton, St. Nicholas. © June Norris. Link.

Parkstone, St. Peter. © Roger Hopkins. Link.
Piddlehinton, St. Mary the Virgin. © Graeme Harvey. Another view, and an interior view. Another favourite church of Roger (and Thomas Hardy!). Both © Roger Hopkins. Link.
Piddletrenthide, All Saints. © Graeme Harvey. Link.
Pilsdon, St. Mary. © June Norris.
Poole.
Puddletown, St. Mary the Virgin. Interior view showing the gallery and organ, and another taken from the gallery. A medieval tomb. Roger explains that this is Thomas Hardy's Weatherbury Church. The gallery (C17) was used by the church musician's, Hardy's father being one of them. All © Roger Hopkins, who rates this church highly. Link.

Radipole, St. Ann. From an old postcard in Steve Bulman's Collection. Link.

Shaftesbury.
Shapwick, St. Bartholomew.  A lovely C14 church on a riverbank. Roger relates the following old story - "
An amusing legend told in these parts is about a long ago funeral at Shapwick's notoriously flood prone church. Mourners were interrupted by a sudden great storm as they lowered the deceased into the grave. As Shapwick quickly became flooded they abandoned the proceedings for higher ground.  However, returning later they found the coffin had floated into the River Stour and was never to be seen again!" © Roger Hopkins. Link.
Sherborne Abbey. © Bill McKenzie. Interior view, from an old postcard in Christopher Skottowe's Collection. And from Christopher Skottowe's Collection, an old engraving of the Abbey. Cheap Street Methodist Church. ST 638 165. © Andrew Ross.
Spetisbury, St. John the Baptist. © June Norris. Link.
Steeple Church, St. Michael and All Angels. © Bill McKenzie.
Stinsford, St. Michael. Interior view. This is Thomas Hardy's "Mellstock Church" in "Tess", and "Under the Greenwood Tree". Both © Roger Hopkins. Link.
Stourpaine, Holy Trinity. © June Norris. Another view, and an interior view, both © Roger Hopkins. Link.
Studland, St. Nicholas. From an old postcard, Bulman Collection. A modern view. Interior view, and another. The church from the east. All photos © Roger Hopkins. Link.
Sturminster Marshall, St. Mary the Virgin. © June Norris. Link.
Sutton Waldron, St. Bartholomew. © June Norris.
Swanage, St. Mary. From an old postcard, Bulman Collection.

Tarrant Crawford, St. Mary. Interior views 1 and 2. St. Mary is all that remains of Tarrant Abbey, which was enormously wealthy. Some 13th/14th century wall paintings survive, and Roger has used computer restoration to improve this detail. All © Roger Hopkins. Link.
Tarrant Gunville, St. Mary. Interior view. A scratch dial. All © Roger Hopkins. Link.
Three Legged Cross, All Saints - an Iron Mission Church, built 1893. In 1957 it was clad in stone, but has since been demolished and replaced. Former Primitive Methodist Chapel. Dating from 1893, it replaced an earlier building of about 1850, and went out of use in 1984. Extended, it is now a private residence. U.R.C., formerly Congregational (built 1891). Images courtesy of Verwood Historical Society, and kindly forwarded by Jill Coulthard.
Thorncombe, St. Mary. ST 375 033. Link. Thorncombe Chapel. ST 375 032. Link. Both © Julie Baker.
Tolpuddle, St. John. © June Norris. Another view. © Roger Hopkins. Interior view. Tolpuddle is, of course, famous for the Tolpuddle Martyrs, and there is an annual Trade Union pilgrimage here to pay their respects to the memory of the martyrs, one of whom is buried here. Both © Roger Hopkins.
Trent, St. Andrew. Another view. ST 589 185. Both © Julie Baker.
Tyneham, St. Mary. Interior view. Detail of the East Window, designed by Martin Travers in 1925. Tyneham is the village commandeered by the MOD during WWII to serve as a training area. See the Wikipedia entry. All © Roger Hopkins. Link.

Upwey, St. Laurence. From an old postcard, Bulman Collection.

Verwood.

Wareham, Lady St. Mary. St. Martins on the Wall. Both © Bill McKenzie. Another view of St. Martin. © Roger Hopkins.
West Bay, St. John. Link. Methodist Church. Both © Graeme Harvey.
West Stafford, St. Andrew. Interior view of a really lovely church. Hardy set the marriage of Angel Clare and Tess of "Tess of the D'Urberville's" here. Both © Roger Hopkins. Link.
Whitchurch Canonicorum, St. Candida & Holy Cross. © June Norris. Link.
Whitcombe, Whitcombe Church (dedication not known). Interior view. Detail of a wall painting. In the care of the Churches Conservation Trust, this ancient church was the living of the dialect poet William Barnes. All © Roger Hopkins. Link.
Wimborne, the Minster, dedicated to St. Cuthburga. From an old postcard, Bulman Collection. The following are © Roger Hopkins. Present-day views, 1, 2. Interior views, 1, 2. The blue-painted roof in the tower. The tomb of Magistrate Anthony Ettricke. The bell-ringer. Link.
Wimborne St. Giles, St. Giles. SU 032 119. © Kevin Gordon.
Winterbourne Abbas, St. Mary. © Graeme Harvey. Link.
Witchampton, St. Mary, St. Cuthberga & All Saints. © June Norris.
Woodlands, Church of the Ascension. © June Norris. Methodist Church (interior only). Image courtesy of Verwood Historical Society, and kindly forwarded by Jill Coulthard.
Worth Matravers, St. Alban's Chapel, aka St. Aldhelm's Chapel according to this website. From an old postcard, Bulman Collection. A modern view. Interior view. Both © Roger Hopkins. St. Nicholas, the parish church. SY 972 774. © Malcolm Matthews. A modern view. Interior view. Both © Roger Hopkins. Link.

Yetminster, St. Andrew. From an old postcard in Reg Dosell's Collection. Link.

 

 
 

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23 May 2010

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