| Building Name: | St Aldhelm's Church |
| Location: | Lytchett Heath, Dorset, England |
| Geo: | 50.7502°N -2.0449°W |
| Status: | Active |
| Architect: | George Crickmay |
| Year Completed: | 1898 |
St Aldhelm's Church is a private church in Lytchett Heath, Dorset, England. It was designed by George Crickmay for Lord Eustace Cecil and built in 1898. It has been a Grade II* listed building since 1984.[1] The lychgate of the churchyard is also Grade II listed.[2]
St Aldhelm's was built in 1898 at the sole expense of Lord Eustace Cecil for use as a private church and to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria.[3] It was designed by George Crickmay and dedicated by the Bishop of Salisbury, the Right Rev. John Wordsworth, on 31 May 1898.[4] Lord Cecil first purchased a large area of land at Lytchett Heath in 1874 and built a residence, Lytchett Heath House, there in 1875.[3]
St Aldhelm's is built of rock-faced and smooth ashlar stone in the Early English style.[1] Designed to accommodate 60 persons, it is made up of a nave, chancel, north vestry and south porch.[5] The west turret contains eight bells, which were added to commemorate Lord Cecil's 80th birthday in 1914.[3] The interior uses a mixture of Purbeck, Ham and Tisbury stone. Many of the internal fittings are of oak, carved by Harry Hems of Exeter. The font is of Caen stone with a Purbeck shaft.[6] In 2001, five stained glass windows based on Saint Aldhelm were designed and made for the church by Jude Tarrant.[7]