Winterborne Whitechurch

St Mary’s Church

Chescombe Lane, Winterborne Whitechurch, Dorset DT11 0AN.

Contacts

Bill Platten – Churchwarden – 01258 881650
Piers Chichester – Treasurer – 01258 880935

Church History and Interesting Facts

Originally a 12th century church, with major alterations in 1844. It was seriously damaged by fire in 1867.

Six yew trees form an avenue from the churchyard east entrance to the south facing porch.

17th Century Vicar imprisoned

The non-conformist preacher John Wesley, grandfather of John and Charles Wesley (the founders of Methodism), was appointed Vicar of Winterborne Whitechurch by Oliver Cromwell’s Commission of Triers in 1658.
John Wesley was imprisoned for not using the Book of Common Prayer and ejected in 1662, delivering his farewell sermon to a weeping audience on August 17th of that year.

Sources:
Dorset Churchyard Yews
Wikipedia

Church Bells

Six bells:
Treble – John Taylor 1990 3-1-18
2nd – John Warner 1866 4-3-20
3rd – William Tosier 1730 5-2-18
4th – Salisbury foundry 14th C. 6-1-8
5th – Purdue 1608 8-1-18
Tenor – John Warner 1866 11-0-10
Practice night
Thursdays 7.30 – 9pm (except 1st Thursday in the month) – please visit and, if you are a ringer, join in the practice!
We suggest you ring John on 01258 880457 to check that we are practising.