St. Hubert's Church, Corfe Mullen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Hubert's Church |
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St Hubert's Church
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| 50°47′05″N 2°02′05″W / 50.7847°N 2.0346°W | |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | A mix of traditional and contemporary worship |
| Weekly attendance | c. 20 (c. 80 at sister church of St. Nicholas) |
| Website | [1] |
| History | |
| Dedication | Saint Hubert |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* ID: 1303916 |
| Years built | 13th century |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Corfe Mullen |
| Deanery | Wimborne |
| Archdeaconry | Dorset |
| Diocese | Salisbury |
| Province | Canterbury |
St Hubert's Church is a very old church, built way back in the 1200s! It's a Church of England parish church located in Corfe Mullen, a village in Dorset, on the south coast of England.
It's a special building, protected as a Grade II* listed building because of its history. St Hubert's is one of two churches in Corfe Mullen that work together as "one church family." They offer different kinds of services, from traditional to more modern styles. Many people choose St Hubert's for weddings because it's such a beautiful and historic place.
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Where is St Hubert's Church?
St Hubert's Church is found in a peaceful countryside area. It's close to the River Stour, at the corner of Knoll Lane and the Blandford Road (B3074). The old Somerset and Dorset Railway track runs nearby, which is now part of the North Dorset Trailway.
This church is part of the original village of Corfe Mullen. It's a bit separate from the main part of the village, which is on Corfe Hills. The other church, St. Nicholas, serves the newer part of the village.
A Look Back: History of the Church
The church was built in the 13th century, which means it's over 700 years old! It was built on the first dry land south of the River Stour. People used local stone called heathstone to build it. Christians might have worshipped here even earlier, as marked by a cross in the churchyard.
The church was first known as St. Nicholas. That name later moved to the newer church built in Corfe Hills. The original building was probably a simple rectangular shape with a nave (main part) and a chancel (area near the altar).
In the early 1300s, a church tower was added. For many centuries, the church stayed mostly the same. The next big change happened in 1841. A south transept (a part that sticks out) was added, and a place for the organ was built. The north porch was also changed into a vestry (a room for clergy).
Until 1857, St Hubert's was a "chapel of ease" for Sturminster Marshall. This meant it was a smaller church that helped people who lived far from the main parish church. In more recent times, the focus has been on fixing up and looking after this old building. The "Friends of St. Hubert's" group helps support this work.
Look up at the roof above the chancel and nave! You'll see some fancy roof bosses (decorated carvings). One has a red rose, which was a symbol of the House of Lancaster. Another has the initials "ER," which might mean the roof was built when Edward IV was king. There's also a communion table from the 1600s with the royal arms of George III.
The Churchyard
The churchyard is a special place. It has a very old yew tree, which people say is 1,000 years old! There's also a stone base of a 14th-century cross. People believe this cross marks the spot where early Christians worshipped.
A new top part and cross were added in 1925. Not long after, the original cross was found buried! It has now been built into the west wall of the tower.
St Nicholas' Church
In the 1900s, Corfe Mullen grew a lot. Many new homes were built on the heathland of Corfe Hills. Because of this growth, a new Anglican church, St. Nicholas', was built in 1995. It's on the high street of the newer part of the village. So now, Corfe Mullen has two church buildings working together.
St Hubert's Today
St Hubert's offers different styles of worship, both traditional and modern. Usually, a traditional morning or communion service is held every two weeks at St. Hubert's on Sundays at 8:45 AM. A more modern service then takes place at 10 AM at St. Nicholas' Church. Together, about 150 adults attend these services. St. Hubert's is a popular place for baptisms and weddings.
During the pandemic lockdown, St. Hubert's was closed. Sunday services were then streamed live online from St Nicholas' Church. There are also many online activities, both for fun and for spiritual growth.
Gallery
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St. Hubert's Church from the North Dorset Trailway
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St. Hubert's Church and the A31/B3074 junction
See also
- Corfe Mullen
