Listed Building record MDO10351 - Church of St Andrew, Minterne Magna

Parish Church. Chancel and nave early C15, north chapel 1610-20, west tower 1800 and 1894, general restoration 1894. Chapel probably for Sir Robert Napier. Restoration of chancel and aisle by H.C. Sturt. Walls of banded flint and rubble and rubble with Ham Hill stone ashlar dressings, chapel in ashlar. Tiled, gable-ended roofs with stone copings bearing finials

Parish Church of St Andrew. Chancel and nave early C15th, North chapel 1610-20, West tower 1800 and 1894, generally restored 1894. Grade II*. (2-4)

Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1902, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Antiquarian Field Club for 1901, xxxiv-xxxvi (Serial). SDO15.

On the conclusion of the business, the members entered the church, where Canon Ravenhill, addressing them, gave a short description of the building from the pages of Hutchins (IV., p. 482), showing the church as it was in the middle of the eighteenth century. He said that since then there had been two great alterations ; the tower was quite new, being built by Admiral the Hon. Robert Digby in 1800, according to his diary. The roof of the nave was also entirely new. It was, he believed, designed by the late Lady Digby only a few years ago. The Canon said that the historical monuments formed a very interesting feature of the church. In the nave is a flat stone with an inscription over the grave of the grandfather of the first Duke of Marlborough, John Churchill, who died April 6th, 1652.
On the north side of the nave is a monument to the Hon. Charles Churchill, fourth son of Sir Winston Churchill, who at the age of 13 was page to Prince George of Denmark. William III. made him Governor of Kinsale, in Ireland. He was one of the best commanders of foot in Europe. Queen Anne made him Governor of the Tower of London and General of the Army. He was at the Battle of Blenheim. For his many great services he was made Governor of Brussels, Colonel of the Coldstream Guards, and Governor of Guernsey-
In 1702 he married Mary, daughter and sole heiress of James Gould, of Dorchester. He died December 29th, 1714, at the early age of 55.
(The tapestry in Minterne House was placed there by him.)
In the north aisle, or Napier Chapel, are monuments to
Humphrey Sturt, son of Humphrey Sturt, of Heckfield, Hants, and Diana, daughter of Sir Nathanael Napier. He was an only son. He died November, 1786, aged 63.
Also to
Sir Nathanael Napier, who died in 1708, aged 72. His second wife died 1724. Moerens posuit Charissimus Conjux, Desunt verba dolenti.
On the north wall to
Mary, Countess Dowager of Edward, Earl of Gainsborough. Her life was exemplary for piety, prudence, charity, and other divine and moral virtues. Departing hence, she left the fragrancy of them behind her to embalm her memory. She died 9 April, 1693, *n the 45th year of her age.
On the south of this Napier aisle is a tablet with the inscription:
Here reposeth the most virtuous, most obliging, and charitable good lady, Blanche Napier, married to Sir Nathanael Napier, Knight and Baronet, and by him had thirteen children. She was one of the daughters and coheirs of Sir Hugh Wyndham, Knight, Judge of the Common Pleas. She was 53 years old, who, languishing under a tedious sickness of half a year, with great joy and willingness received the fatal stroke from the cold hand of death i April, 1695, who carried her from all her sickness, pains, and miseries here below; to joy, ease, and happiness unspeakable, there to live in the blest habitation of angels to all eternity. Erected by her dear husband, Sir N. Napier, 1695.
On a brass in this chapel is also an inscription :
In memory of Humphrey Sturt, of Horton, Critchell. Brownsea Castle, Grange, and Cliffe, each in this Shire, of which he was one of the Knights from 1759 to 1784. His mother was Diana, daughter of Nathanael Napier, Bart.
Of Charles Sturt, second son of Humphry Sturt. He married Mary Anna, only daughter of Anthony, 5th Earl of Shaftesbury. He died May 12, 1812.
On the south wall of the nave is a large and interesting brass
In memory of Sir Henry Digby, K.C.B., Admiral of the Blue, born Jan. 20, 1770 ; died Aug. 19, 1842. He commanded H.M. Africa in the memorable action off Trafalgar, Oct. 21, 1805. By his gallantry and daring he obtained the marked approbation of Admiral Horatio Viscount Nelson and the thanks of Parliament. Also of his wife, Jane Elizabeth, eldest daughter of Thomas William Coke, Earl of Leicester, and relict of Charles Nevison, Viscount Andover, born Dec. 22, 1777 ; died April 29, 1863. In testimony of their sincere and dutiful affection, their sons, Edwrard St. Vincent, Lord Digby, and the Hon. And Rev. Kenelm Henry Digby, M A., have caused this monument to be erected.
The Rector, the Rev. W. G. Barclay, said the church had been re-seated by the present Lord Digby in remembrance of his sister, and the carved oak front to the gallery had been given by his Lordship in remembrance of his father. There were eight tubular bells in the tower put in because the tower was not strong enough to carry a chime of bells.
The Club, after inspecting the consecration crosses outside the church, then proceeded to Minterne House

<1> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments England, 1952, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume I (West), 167-8 (Monograph). SDO97.

<2> Newman, J, and Pevsner, N, 1972, The Buildings of England: Dorset, 295 (Monograph). SWX1290.

<3> Ordnance Survey, 1:2500 scale, 1974 (Map). SWX1197.

(ST 6595 0433). St Andrew's Church (NAT)

<4> DOE (HRR), 17 Oct 1986, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest: District of West Dorset amendment 1986, 63 (Scheduling record). SWX2454.

<5> National Record of the Historic Environment, 887307 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Aug 22 2025 8:02PM