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 in Corfe Mullen, England. It was built way back in the 1200s! This church is part of the Church of England and is considered a special historic building. It's one of two churches in the area that work together like a "church family." People love to have weddings here because it's such a beautiful and historic place.
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Where is St Hubert's Church?
This church is found in the countryside, in the valley of the River Stour. It sits at the corner of Knoll Lane and the Blandford Road. You can find it just before this road meets the A31. A path called the North Dorset Trailway runs nearby. This path used to be a railway line! The church is in the older part of Corfe Mullen village. It is separate from the main town, which is on Corfe Hills.
The Long History of St Hubert's
The church was built in the 1200s. It was placed on the first dry land south of the River Stour. The builders used a local stone called heathstone. Christians might have worshipped here even earlier. A cross in the churchyard marks this very old spot.
How the Church Grew Over Time
The church was first known as St. Nicholas. That name later moved to the new church built on Corfe Hills. St Hubert's probably started as a simple rectangular building. It had a main hall called a nave and a special area for the altar called a chancel. In the early 1300s, a church tower was added. For many years, the church stayed much the same.
A big change happened in 1841. A new section, called the south transept, was built. An organ gallery was also created. The north porch was changed into a vestry, which is a room used by the clergy.
Restoring a Historic Building
Until 1857, St Hubert's was a smaller church connected to Sturminster Marshall. In more recent times, people have worked hard to restore and redecorate the church. A group called the "Friends of St. Hubert's" helps to keep this historic building in good condition.
Look up at the roof above the chancel and nave! You will see many fancy decorations called roof bosses. One has a red rose. Another has the letters "ER." These letters suggest the roof was built when Edward IV was king. There is also a communion table from the 1600s. It has the royal arms of George III.
The Churchyard and Its Secrets
The churchyard is famous for its very old yew tree. People say it is 1,000 years old! There is also a stone base of a cross from the 1300s. This cross is thought to be where early Christians worshipped. A new top part and cross were added in 1925. Later, the original cross was found buried. It is now built into the west wall of the tower.
St Nicholas' Church: A Sister Church
In the 1900s, Corfe Mullen grew a lot. Many homes were built on the heathland of Corfe Hills. This area is south of the original village. Because of this growth, a new Anglican church was built in 1995. This new church is called St. Nicholas'. It is on the high street of the main town. Now, Corfe Mullen has two church buildings working together.
St Hubert's Church Today
St Hubert's offers different styles of worship. Some services are traditional, and some are more modern. Usually, a traditional morning or communion service is held every two weeks at St. Hubert's. It starts at 8:45 AM on Sundays. A more modern service is held 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, St. Hubert's was closed for a time. Sunday services were streamed live online from St Nicholas' instead. There are also many online activities for people to join. These activities are both social and spiritual.
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
