St Andrew's Church, Winterborne Tomson
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. 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. The roof is topped by a small weatherboard belfry which resembles a dovecote.
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. The work was supervised by A. R. Powys who also oversaw the work at the Old St Cuthbert's Church, Oborne.
See also
References
- ^ Historic England. "Church of Saint Andrew (1118600)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
- ^ "St Andrew's Church, Winterborne Tomson, Dorset". Churches Conservation Trust. Retrieved 31 March 2011.
- ^ "Diocese of Salisbury: All Schemes" (PDF). Church Commissioners/Statistics. Church of England. 2011. p. 12. Retrieved 31 March 2011.
- ^ Alexandra Richards (2015). Dorset (Slow Travel). Bradt Travel Guides. p. 136. ISBN 978-1-84162-867-7.
- ^ Kinross, John (2003). Discovering England's smallest churches. London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson. pp. 40–41. ISBN 1-84212-728-4.