Church of St Candida and Holy Cross facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Candida and Holy Cross |
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St Candida and Holy Cross from the west
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 St Candida and Holy Cross
Location in Dorset
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| 50°45′19″N 2°51′23″W / 50.7554°N 2.8565°W | |
| OS grid reference | SY3968195442 |
| Location | Whitchurch Canonicorum, Dorset |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Founder(s) | Alfred the Great |
| Relics held | St Wite (Latin: St Candida) |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade I |
| Designated | 5 September 1960 |
| Style | Early English, Perpendicular |
| Specifications | |
| Tower height | 75 feet (23 m) |
| Materials | Stone, slate roof |
| Bells | Eight |
| Tenor bell weight | 16 long cwt 3 qr 26 lb (1,902 lb or 863 kg) |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Whitchurch Canonicorum |
| Deanery | Lyme Bay |
| Archdeaconry | Sherborne |
| Diocese | Salisbury |
| Province | Canterbury |
The Church of St Candida and Holy Cross is a historic church in Whitchurch Canonicorum, Dorset, England. It is a special place because it holds the remains of its patron saint, St Wite. This is very rare for a local church in England.
The church has a long history, dating back to the 12th century. It features different styles of architecture, including Norman, Early English, and Perpendicular. Many famous people are connected to the church, including George Somers, who founded the colony of Bermuda. Today, it is an active Church of England parish church. It is also a Grade I listed building, meaning it is very important historically.
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History of the Church
The church is located in a small village called Whitchurch Canonicorum in west Dorset. A church was first built here in the 9th century by Alfred the Great. He named it Hwitan Cyrican, which means "White Church." Sadly, none of that original building remains today.
In the 11th century, William the Conqueror gave the church to monks from St Wandrille's monastery in France. These monks started rebuilding and expanding the church in the 12th century. Later, in the 13th century, a local lord named Robert de Mandeville made even more changes. He added parts like the nave and transepts. He also built a special shrine to hold the remains of St Wite.
By the early 15th century, this church served one of the largest parishes in England. The church's tall tower was added around this time. The shrine of St Wite was believed to have healing powers, making the church a popular place for pilgrimages. However, this changed during the 16th century English Reformation, when honoring saints was stopped. Since then, the church has had only a few major updates. It remains an important part of the Church of England today.
St Wite's Special Shrine
Inside the church, you can find the shrine of its patron saint, St Wite. Her name in Latin is St Candida. This shrine is very unique because it is one of only two in English local churches that still holds a saint's remains. It is also the only one to survive the English Reformation besides the one in Westminster Abbey.
The shrine is a simple stone tomb from the 13th century, about 5 feet tall. It has a rectangular stone coffin with a lid. The base has three oval openings. People who visited believed the saint's remains had healing powers. They would put personal items or even diseased body parts into these openings, hoping for a cure.
It's a mystery how this shrine survived the Reformation. During that time, many shrines and relics were destroyed. Perhaps its simple look made people think it was just an ordinary tomb. The saint's identity was even lost for a while. Local stories say St Wite was an Anglo-Saxon holy woman killed by Vikings. Another idea is that she was Gwen Teirbron, a holy woman from France. In 1900, the tomb was opened. Inside, a lead box was found with the bones of a small woman. The box had a Latin message: "Here lie the remains of St Wite."
Church Architecture and Design
The Church of St Candida and Holy Cross has a typical cross shape, known as cruciform. It shows a mix of building styles. It is a great example of Early English architecture in Dorset, especially in its main parts like the nave and transepts. You can also see some Norman features and later Perpendicular additions.
The church is built from stone with slate roofs. It has a main hall (nave), side aisles, transepts, a west tower, and a chancel (the area around the altar). The tower is in the Perpendicular style and is about 75 feet tall. It has a fancy top with pointed decorations called pinnacles. The tower also has eight bells, with the oldest from the 17th century. Look closely at the tower walls, and you'll see carved stone panels. One shows an old ship and an axe, possibly from Viking times.
The south doorway is Norman, with detailed carvings. Inside, the south aisle has three Norman arches. The north aisle has four arches in the Early English style, with beautifully carved tops on their columns. The main roof of the church is made of wood and dates back to the 14th century. The chancel has three tall, narrow windows called lancets. The church also has a Norman stone font for baptisms and a wooden pulpit from the Jacobean period.
Important Memorials and Graves
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Inside the church, you can find several interesting memorials. In the chancel, there is a very decorated monument for Sir John Jefferey, who passed away in 1611. It features carved columns and fancy designs.
Nearby is the tomb of John Wadham, who died in 1584. He was an important person, serving as a captain for the Queen and a Member of Parliament. His family later founded Wadham College, Oxford.
On the south wall, a brass plaque remembers Admiral Sir George Somers. He was famous for founding the English colony of Bermuda. He died in 1610, and his body (except for his heart) is buried under the church's vestry. Another plaque honors Edgar Christopher Cookson, who received the Victoria Cross for bravery in 1915.
Outside, in the churchyard, is the grave of Georgi Markov. He was a Bulgarian writer who was killed in London in 1978. The ashes of the well-known broadcaster Robin Day are also buried near the south door of the church.
