St Ann's Church, Radipole facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St Ann's Church
Religion
Affiliation	Church of England
Ecclesiastical or organizational status	Active
Location
Location	Radipole, Weymouth, Dorset, England
Architecture
Architectural type	Church

St Ann's Church is an old church in Radipole, a part of Weymouth in Dorset, England. It belongs to the Church of England. This church is very old, dating back to the 1200s! Because it's so historic, it's listed as a Grade II* building, which means it's a really important historical place. Even the wall around the churchyard and a building across the street are also listed as historic.

A Church with a Long Story

St Ann's Church wasn't always called St Ann's. It was first named after St Mary and served as the main church for Melcombe Regis. The church you see today was built in the 1200s. However, people think an even older church might have been there before. This idea came from finding special tiles when the church floor was replaced in 1863.

Building Through the Centuries

Most of the main part of the church, called the nave, is from the 1200s. Back then, the church only had a nave and a chancel (the area near the altar). In the 1300s, chapels were added on the north and south sides. The chancel was also rebuilt and made bigger during the same century.

The western part of the nave was rebuilt in the early 1500s. A small tower was replaced with a bell-turret, which is a small tower holding bells. The south porch, which is like an entrance hall, was rebuilt in 1733, and the south chapel was rebuilt in 1735.

A New Church and a New Role

In 1605, a new church named St Mary's was built closer to the harbour in Melcombe Regis. This new church became the main parish church the next year. St Ann's then became a "chapel of ease." This meant it was a smaller church used for people who lived far from the main parish church.

The new church was built because the Radipole church was too small and not easy for many people to get to. Also, people worried that enemies might attack the town while everyone was at church.

Restorations and Rededication

During the 1800s, St Mary's at Radipole was renamed St Ann's. In 1863, the church had a big makeover inside. This cost £400, which was a lot of money back then! Mr. G. R. Crickmay designed the changes, and Mr. R. Reynolds did the building work.

What Changed in 1863

• The walls were fixed.
• Old pews (church benches) were replaced with new ones made of stained wood.
• New flooring was laid down.
• The church's gallery (an upper seating area) was replaced.
• Two small windows were replaced with one larger window.
• The wooden roof of the nave was repaired.
• New wooden roofs were added to the porch and south transept (a part of the church that sticks out).
• New church furniture was added, including a pulpit (where sermons are given) made of Portland stone and an octagonal (eight-sided) font (for baptisms), also made of Portland stone.
• A reading desk and communion rail were also added.

The church reopened on December 23, 1863.

More Updates and Becoming a Parish Church Again

More repairs happened in 1882. The outside walls and roof were fixed, and the inside was cleaned and repainted. Some new fittings were also added.

In 1926, St Ann's became a parish church again. This happened when Radipole and Melcombe Regis became separate parishes. A new church, St Aldhelm's, was built nearby between 1939 and 1941 to serve the growing number of people in Radipole. The vestry (a room where clergy prepare) of St Ann's was rebuilt in 1960. Its doorway uses old stonework from a 17th-century house in Weymouth that was taken down the year before.

How the Church Looks

St Ann's is built from stone blocks and rough stone, with slate roofs. It has a nave with five sections, a chancel, chapels on the north and south sides, a south porch, and a vestry. The west side has a two-story bell-turret. Above the arch leading to the chancel, you can see the Royal Arms of King William IV.

In the south porch, you'll find the church's original font from the 1200s. It was first square but was recut in the 1500s to be rounded. Other features include a stone reredos (a decorated screen behind the altar) from the late 1800s and a carved oak pulpit from 1902.

The church room across from St Ann's was built as a schoolroom in 1850. The land for it was given by William Eliot. This building also became a Grade II listed building in 1974.

The Churchyard

The churchyard is the area around the church where people are buried. In 1997, several old monuments in the churchyard were also listed as Grade II historic structures. These include:

• A headstone for Edward and Mary Bealle from 1694.
• A headstone for William Moulam from 1737.
• A chest tomb for Archibald Grant from 1805.