St Aldhelm's Church, Boveridge facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St Aldhelm's Church
Religion
Affiliation	Church of England
Ecclesiastical or organizational status	Redundant
Location
Location	Boveridge, Dorset, England
Architecture
Architectural type	Church
Completed	1838

St Aldhelm's Church is a building in Boveridge, a village in Dorset, England. It used to be a Church of England church. A wealthy person named Richard Brouncker paid for it to be built in 1838.

The church stopped being used for services in 1980. When a church is no longer used for worship, it is called "redundant." Today, this historic building is a private home. It is also a Grade II listed building, which means it's an important historical site.

The Church's Story

Early Chapels and Help for the Poor

People in Boveridge have had a place to worship for a very long time. As far back as 1595, a small chapel was mentioned in a will. This shows that the community had a religious building then.

In the early 1600s, Thomas Hooper, who owned the Boveridge estate, helped the village. He set up an almshouse. This was a special house where poor people could live. His son, Edward Hooper, who passed away in 1661, also helped. He left money and land to support three poor widows. He also gave money to pay a minister. This minister would teach Christian lessons to the poorer people at the village chapel.

Building New Churches

In 1708, a new chapel was built near Boveridge Farm. Edward Hooper built this one. The vicar from Cranborne would come to lead services there.

Later, in 1838, Richard Brouncker decided to build an even newer church. He chose a spot that was easier for everyone in the village to reach. This is the building we now know as St Aldhelm's Church.

Restoration and Dedication

The church was repaired and updated in 1896. This work cost about £100. A local builder named Mr. T. Coombe from Cranborne did the repairs.

The church was officially reopened on October 8, 1896. It was dedicated to St. Aldhelm by the Archdeacon of Dorset, Francis Sowter. An Archdeacon is a senior leader in the Church of England.

During this restoration, many things were improved. The walls were repainted. The windows were cleaned and fixed. The old stone floor was replaced with wooden blocks. The chancel, which is the area around the altar, was raised higher than the main part of the church, called the nave. The communion table also got its own platform.

The old square pews, which came from another church in Salisbury, were replaced. New benches made of carved oak were put in. These new benches could seat about 100 people. The wooden rails around the communion area were also removed. A new pulpit and reading desk were built using wood from the old rails.

Becoming a Private Home

St Aldhelm's Church was officially declared "redundant" by the Church of England on October 13, 1980. This meant it was no longer needed for church services.

In 1981, permission was given to change the building. It could now be used as a single home instead of a church. The building was then sold to a private owner. In 1982, plans were approved to turn it into a house. Later, in 1990, more changes and additions were allowed for the building.

What the Church Looks Like

St Aldhelm's Church is built with different materials. It has stripes of brick and flint stone. The corners and decorative parts are made of brick and smooth stone. The roofs are made of slate.

The church has a main hall (the nave) and a chancel. It also has a small chapel on the north side and a tower on the north-west side. The square tower has a stone cupola on top. A cupola is a small dome-shaped structure. This one has four columns and a dome, and it holds one bell.

Before it became a home, the church had some interesting features inside. There was a font made of Portland stone, likely from 1838. A font is a basin used for baptisms. The walls of the chancel and nave had old wooden panels from the 1500s and 1600s. There were also coats of arms for the Hooper and Brouncker families. In the north chapel, there was a stone tablet from 1825. This tablet remembered Henry Brouncker and other members of his family.