St Andrew's, Winterborne Tomson Heritage

St Andrew’s is a delightful small Norman church with an apse at its east end, unaltered in its plan since the early 12th century. Built of local stone and flint, it has a tiny weatherboarded bell turret.

Inside all is simple, bright and beautiful, with uneven limewashed walls and flagged floor. The wagon roof is unique in that it curves round the apse, with finely carved bosses where the oak ribs intersect. The greatest charm is provided by early 18th century oak fittings which were provided by William Wake, Archbishop of Canterbury, whose family lived nearby. The box pews, the pulpit, the screen, the communion rails and matching table, the font cover and the west door all date from his refurbishment. All the woodwork is of excellent local craftsmanship in oak and over the centuries has faded to a magical silvery grey. By the late 1920s the church was almost derelict and “given over to donkeys, dogs, pigs and fowls”. The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings raised money for its repair by selling a collection of Thomas Hardy’s manuscripts. Hardy was an architect’s assistant in this part of Dorset, but this church does not seem to have featured in any of his works. The restoration work was supervised by the architect A R Powys, Secretary to the Society. It is thanks to him that this lovely church has survived, and in such a wonderfully unspoilt condition. A plaque in the church, beautifully cut by Reynolds Stone, commemorates Powys’s work.

Opening Times

Open Daily

Post a comment

Be the first to comment on this Gem