Old St Cuthbert's Church, Oborne facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Cuthbert's Church |
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| Location | Oborne, Dorset, England |
| Built | 1533 |
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Listed Building – Grade II*
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| Official name: Old Parish Church of St Cuthbert | |
| Designated | 31 July 1961 |
| Reference no. | 1304077 |
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The Old St Cuthbert's Church in Oborne, Dorset, England, is a very old building. It was built way back in 1533. This church is special because it's listed as a Grade II* building. This means it's an important historical site that needs to be protected.
Today, the church is looked after by the Churches Conservation Trust. This group helps to save old churches that are no longer used for regular services. St Cuthbert's was officially closed for services in 1973 and given to the Trust in 1975.
Contents
What Remains of the Old Church?
Only the chancel part of St Cuthbert's Church is still standing. The chancel is the area around the altar where the priest leads the service. The main part of the church, called the nave (where the people sit), was taken down in the 1860s.
This church was one of the last ones built before a big change in religion called the Protestant Reformation. For a while, the chancel was not well cared for. But in the 1930s, a new church leader helped to fix it up. He got advice from an expert named A. R. Powys, who worked for a group that protects old buildings.
A Look Back in Time
The village of Oborne and its church have a long history. In the 10th century, the area was given to Sherborne Abbey by the Saxon King Edgar. Sherborne Abbey was a large monastery.
St Cuthbert's Church was like a smaller, local church connected to the abbey. It stayed this way until 1539. That's when King Henry VIII closed down many monasteries in England, an event known as the Dissolution of the Monasteries.
Inside the Church
Inside the old church, you can see some amazing historical features. There are mediaeval (which means from the Middle Ages) floor tiles and communion rails. You can also find a pulpit and monuments from the 1600s.
Some parts of the church, like the pillar piscina (a basin used for washing sacred vessels) and the font (a basin for baptisms), were brought here from another place called North Wootton. Look above the windows on the east and north sides, and you'll see old messages carved into the stone. These messages ask for prayers for important church leaders from 1533.
The New Church
Because the old church was falling apart, a new church was built in Oborne. This new parish church was designed by an architect named William Slater. It was built in a different spot in the village and opened in 1862.
See also
