St Andrew's Church, Winterborne Tomson Explained

St Andrew's Church, Winterborne Tomson
Pushpin Map:Dorset
Pushpin Mapsize:250
Map Caption:Location in Dorset
Location:Winterborne Tomson, Dorset
Country:England
Coordinates:50.7763°N -2.1649°W
Osgraw:SY 885 974
Website:Churches Conservation Trust
Functional Status:Redundant
Heritage Designation:Grade I
Designated Date:14 July 1955
Architectural Type:Church
Style:Norman
Materials:Flint

St Andrew's Church in Winterborne Tomson, Dorset, England, was built in the 12th century. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building, and is a redundant church in the care of the Churches Conservation Trust.[1] It was declared redundant on 1 June 1972, and was vested in the Trust on 26 March 1974.[2]

The small flint and stone Norman Anglican Church of St Andrew has an apse at the east end and a barrel vault roof which curves around it.[1] The roof was replaced and windows inserted in the 16th century. The oak door is heavily studded. The interior has limewashed walls, a 15th-century font and flag stone floor, along with early 18th-century oak fittings. The eighteenth century oak pews, the pulpit, screen, communion rails and matching table with barley sugar turned legs, and other woodwork were provided by William Wake, Archbishop of Canterbury, who had been raised in the village of Shapwick and whose family lived locally. The west end has a late medieval gallery with a panelled front which was probably originally a rood screen.[1] The roof is topped by a small weatherboard belfry which resembles a dovecote.[3]

By the early 20th century, the church had fallen into disrepair and was being used as an animal shelter by a local farmer. Repairs were paid for by the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings who sold a collection of Thomas Hardy’s manuscripts to raise the funding.[1] The work was supervised by A. R. Powys who also oversaw the work at the Old St Cuthbert's Church, Oborne.[4]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: St Andrew's Church, Winterborne Tomson, Dorset. Churches Conservation Trust. 31 March 2011.
  2. Web site: 2011. Diocese of Salisbury: All Schemes. Church Commissioners/Statistics. Church of England. 12. PDF . 31 March 2011.
  3. Book: Alexandra Richards. Dorset (Slow Travel). 2015 . Bradt Travel Guides. 978-1-84162-867-7 . 136.
  4. Book: Kinross, John . Discovering England's smallest churches . Weidenfeld & Nicolson . London . 2003 . 40–41 . 1-84212-728-4.