Canford Magna Parish Church facts for kids
The Canford Magna Parish Church is a very old and interesting church. It is located in Canford Magna, a village in Dorset, England. People think it might be named after St Augustine. This church is special because it shows a mix of different building styles from long ago. You can see parts built in the Saxon period, the Norman period, and the Mid Gothic period. It's so important that English Heritage has given it a Grade I listed building status. This means it's a building of exceptional historical and architectural interest.
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History of Canford Magna Church
How the Church Grew Over Time
A very long time ago, during the late Saxon period, a small chapel was built here. This chapel is now the chancel, which is the part of the church where the altar is.
Between the 1100s and the 1500s, the church was managed by monks. These monks were from Bradenstoke Priory. This arrangement ended in January 1539. This was when many monasteries in England were closed down.
During the Norman period, the church became much bigger. Around the year 1180, a north tower was added. This tower is in a very unusual spot. It is not far enough north to be like a side wing, as you might see at Exeter Cathedral. The tower holds a set of six bells. Five of these bells were made by William Knight, a famous bell maker. The sixth bell was added in 1897. This was to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria. Her Golden Jubilee marked 50 years of her being queen. The five older bells are very important and are officially listed. The largest bell weighs about 494 kilograms. It rings out the note F sharp.
Changes in the 1900s
In the 1900s, the church became important for a type of Christian movement. This movement is called Evangelicalism. In 1971, a minister named John Collins took charge of the church. He started a new way of helping people in the church. This was similar to the Oxford Group. About 30 members of the church became special helpers or counsellors.
People Buried at the Church
Notable Individuals Laid to Rest
The church cemetery is the final resting place for several important people.
- The ashes of Sir Austen Henry Layard are buried here. He was an archeologist and a politician. He passed away in 1894.
- Ivor Guest, 1st Baron Wimborne, was buried in the churchyard in 1914. His wife, Cornelia Guest, Baroness Wimborne, was buried here in 1927.
- Sir Walter Shaw was a judge. He was also the chairman of the Shaw Commission. He 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. He was killed during the Second World War.
