This is an interesting and impressively large church that is sited on slightly rising ground. Perhaps the most interesting aspect is the tower, which is a strange mixture of C14 and C15. The rest is Victorian 1865-6, designed, with great care, by John Hicks of Dorchester, who used much of the material from the original church. On entering the nave, one's eye is immediately drawn towards the magnificent pulpit fashioned from brilliant white Caen stone, still bearing some original paint and accommodating a number of beautifully executed figures in niches. The church pamphlet speaks of the pulpit having been once a font, but converted back to its original purpose with improvements, during the 1865 restoration.
The north aisle shelters the Lady Chapel with a most attractive window that borrows strongly from William Holman Hunt's painting of Christ as 'The Light of the World'. Looking west, the principal feature is the baptistery formed in the space immediately below the tower. The font of 1844 by Boulton of Worcester, is made of Caen stone supported on a shaft of red alabaster and decorated with three sculptured kneeling angels, holding in their hands the shell, the dove and the Lamb as emblems of the Trinity.
To the left of the baptistery there is stairway leading to the bell ringing chamber for six bells. There was a tragedy in 1957 when the Rector, W.R.Mortimer was showing some school children the bells while they were 'raised'. Quite appallingly, the fifth bell was somehow released causing it to overturn and he was killed.
This is a really magnificent village church, which well rewards a visit.
The Trust gratefully acknowledges images and text by Robin Adeney ©
Ref | Title | Town | Postcode | Distance |
---|---|---|---|---|
St Andrew | Okeford Fitzpaine | DT11 0RD | 0 | |
St. Aldhelm | Belchalwell | DT11 0EH | 1 | |
Holy Rood | Shillingstone | DT11 0SL | 1 | |
St. Nicholas | Child Okeford | DT11 8ED | 2 | |
St. Eustace | Ibberton | DT11 0EN | 2 | |
St. Mary | Turnworth | DT11 0EE | 2 | |
St. Mary | Sturminster Newton | DT10 1DE | 2 | |
St. Paul | Hammoon | DT10 2DB | 2 | |
All Saints | Fifehead Neville | DT10 2AL | 2 | |
Holy Trinity | Stourpaine | DT11 8TQ | 3 | |
St. Mary | Iwerne Courtney | DT11 8PU | 3 | |
St. Mary | Shroton | DT11 8PU | 3 | |
St. Nicholas | Durweston | DT11 0QA | 3 | |
St. Peter | Hinton St. Mary | DT10 1NA | 4 | |
St Luke | West Orchard | SP7 0LJ | 4 | |
St. Thomas | East Orchard | SP7 0LJ | 4 | |
St. Mary & St. James | Hazelbury Bryan | DT10 2ED | 4 | |
St. Andrew | Winterborne Houghton | DT11 0PD | 4 | |
St. Mary | Winterborne Stickland | DT11 0NJ | 4 | |
St Thomas a Beckett | Lydlinch | DT10 2JA | 4 |
DHCT C/o Porter Dodson, 53 High West Street, Dorchester DT1 1UX
282790