Canford Magna Parish Church facts for kids

The Canford Magna Parish Church in Canford Magna, Dorset, England, is a very old church. It might be named after St Augustine. This church is special because it shows a mix of different building styles from history. You can see parts built in the Saxon, Norman, and Gothic periods.

Because of its historical importance, English Heritage has listed it as a Grade I building. This means it's a very important historical site that needs to be protected.

About Canford Magna Church

A Long History

The story of Canford Magna Church began a very long time ago, during the late Saxon period. Back then, a small chapel was built. This chapel is now the part of the church called the chancel, which is usually at the east end.

For many years, from the 1100s until the 1500s, the church was managed by monks from Bradenstoke Priory. This arrangement ended in January 1539. This was when King Henry VIII closed down many monasteries and priories across England, a time known as the Dissolution of the monasteries.

Building Through the Ages

During the Norman period, the church became much bigger. Around the year 1180, a tower was added on the north side. This was a bit unusual because it wasn't placed exactly where towers usually are.

The Church Bells

The church's tower holds a set of six bells. Five of these bells are very old and were made by a bell founder named William Knight. They are some of the last bells made by his company. The sixth bell, called the treble, was added in 1897. This was to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria, marking 50 years of her rule. The five older bells are considered historically important. The largest bell, called the tenor, weighs about 494 kilograms (1088 pounds) and rings out the note F sharp.

In the 1900s, the church also saw some interesting changes in how it served its community. In 1971, a minister named John Collins took charge. He helped create a new way for the church to support its members, similar to a group called the Oxford Group. This led to about 30 church members becoming special helpers or "counsellors" for the church community.

People Buried Here

The churchyard of Canford Magna is the final resting place for several notable people.

The ashes of Sir Austen Henry Layard were buried here after he passed away in 1894. He was famous as an archeologist, someone who studies ancient history by digging up old sites. He was also a politician.

Ivor Guest, 1st Baron Wimborne, a well-known figure, was buried in the churchyard in 1914.

Sir Walter Shaw, a judge who led an important investigation called the Shaw Commission, was buried here on April 27, 1937.

The churchyard also holds the grave of Ellis Gawler. He was a serviceman in the Royal Air Force Reserve who sadly died during the Second World War.