St Mary's Church, Charminster facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St Mary, Charminster |
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Viewed from the south-east
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| 50°43′58.8″N 2°27′21.2″W / 50.733000°N 2.455889°W | |
| OS grid reference | SY 679 927 |
| Location | Charminster |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| History | |
| Dedication | Mary the Virgin |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade I |
| Designated | 26 january 1956 |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Diocese of Salisbury |
St Mary's Church is a very old Anglican church. You can find it in the village of Charminster, Dorset. It belongs to the Diocese of Salisbury. This church is a special Grade I listed building. This means it is very important! Some parts of the church are from the 11th and 12th centuries. The tall tower was added in the 16th century.
Contents
Exploring St Mary's Church
How Old Is This Church?
There was a church here a very long time ago. It might have been a wooden building in the 8th century. Some people think the first church was closer to North Street. The land where the church stands now might have been a river bed back then.
The oldest parts of the church you see today are from the 11th century. These are parts of the east wall of the nave. Other sections, like the north and south arcades, are from the late 12th century. The chancel arch is also from this time.
The Trenchard Family's Mark
The Trenchard family lived at Wolfeton House. They helped make the church bigger in the 15th century. They extended the south aisle to create the south chapel. This chapel was made even larger in the early 16th century. You can find special table tombs of Trenchard family members inside this chapel.
The church's tower was built in the 16th century. Thomas Trenchard built it. It has three levels and a special top part called an embattled parapet. Look closely and you will see seven gargoyles! The rooms next to the tower, called vestries, are also from this time. Thomas Trenchard's special spiral symbol is carved all over the tower and vestries. The south porch was also built in the 16th century. Its arch was rebuilt in the 17th century.
On the north wall of the main part of the church, there are old painted designs. These designs show strawberries and their leaves. They were made in the early 16th century.
The font, where babies are baptised, is probably from the 12th century. It was reshaped and recut in the 15th century.
Changes Over Time
The chancel is the part of the church near the altar. It was taken down in the 17th century. It was rebuilt around 1838. The north aisle was also rebuilt later in the 19th century. The roofs of the church were replaced in 1895. A new organ was put in the church around 1953.
