Listed Building record MDO14025 - Parish Church of St Nicholas, Church Street, Abbotsbury

Parish Church. Fourteenth century north aisle wall and north porch. Fourteenth century West Tower, north of central axis, perhaps implying earlier aisleless church. Fifteenth century rebuilding from the east end of the Chancel and addition of North Chapel. Sixteenth century, nave remodelled with rebuilt arcades.

Parish church with a 14th century north aisle wall and north porch and an early 15th century west tower. A general rebuilding of the chancel was carried out in the 15th century and the north chapel was added. The nave was remodelled during the 16th century. The plaster ceiling in the chancel was inserted in 1638 and the reredos was erected in 1751. The church was restored in 1807-08, 1885 and 1930. <1-2>

Moule, H J, 1927, Abbotsbury (Monograph). SDO21280.

<1> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments England, 1952, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume I (West), 2 (Monograph). SDO97.

'(1) PARISH CHURCH OF ST. NICHOLAS (Plates 57, 58) stands to the S. of the village. The walls are of local rubble and ashlar with dressings of the same material; the roofs are covered with lead and slates. The N. wall of the North Aisle and the North Porch are mainly of early 14th-century date. Early in the 15th century the West Tower was built; the position of the tower may imply that at this time the nave was aisleless. At some later period in the same century a general rebuilding was begun at the E. end of the Chancel, with the addition of the North Chapel and a widening towards the S. This seems not to have been proceeded with and early in the 16th century the church was remodelled, the two arcades of the Nave and the South Aisle being built without regard to the pre-existing E. window and tower-arch. The plaster ceiling of the chancel was inserted in 1638 and in 1751 the reredos was erected blocking the E. window. The church was restored in 1807-8 when the gallery was erected and again in about 1885 and in 1930.
The church is of some architectural interest and the fittings are noteworthy.
Architectural Description - The Chancel and Nave (76¼ ft. by 14¼ ft.) are structurally undivided. The 15th century E. window is well to the S. of the axial line and was blocked in the 18th century; it is of five cinque-foiled lights with vertical tracery in a four centred head with moulded label and defaced stops. The early 16th-century N. and S. arcades are of six bays with two-centred and moulded arches springing from hollow-chamfered piers, each with four attached shafts with moulded bases and carved foliage-capitals, some possibly modern; the first two capitals on the S. side have also the initials I.P. (ascribed to John Portesham, Abbot of Abbotsbury) and M.R.; there is also a beast on the second capital; the responds have attached half-piers. The early 16th century clearstorey has, on each side, five windows, each of two four-centred lights in a square head; on the S. side is a panel referring to the restoration of 1807-8.

The North Chapel and Aisle (7¼ ft wide) has a 15th century E. window of three cinquefoiled ogee lights with vertical tracery in a two-centred head with moulded reveals and label and a head-stop. In the N. wall are four windows, the easternmost similar to that just described; the second and fourth windows are of the 14th century and of two trefoiled ogee lights in a square head; the third window is of the 15th century and of three cinquefoiled lights in a two-centred head with moulded external reveals and label with returned stops; between the first two windows is the rood-loft staircase; the doorway has a four-centred head; immediately W. of the staircase is a blocked early 16th century doorway with a four centred head; it is set high in the external face of the wall; the 15th century N. doorway has chamfered jambs and four centred head. The embattled parapet has pinnacles standing on corbels carved with grotesque figures or heads of men and beasts, the bust of a man with toothache, a crouching man and a winged monster.

The South Aisle (8¾ ft wide) is of early 16th century date and has an E. window of three tre-foiled ogee lights with vertical tracery in a three-centred head with moulded reveals and label. In the S. wall are six windows, similar to that in the E. wall; between the two easternmost windows is a 17th century doorway with moulded jambs, three-centred head and label, and the date 1636; the S. doorway, now blocked, has chamfered jambs and a four-centred head. In the W. wall is a window similar to those in the S. wall.

The West Tower (12 ft. square) is of c. 1400 and of three stages with an embattled parapet and carved bosses on the parapet string-course. The tower arch is moulded and two-centred and the responds are shafted; the reveals and soffit have two ranges of trefoil-headed panels; the N. respond is largely covered by the N. arcade of the nave. The W. window is of three cinquefoiled lights with vertical tracery in a two-centred head with moulded reveals and label with head-stops; the W. doorway has moulded jambs and four-centred head; above the window, externally, is a niche with side-buttresses and damaged head; it contains a carving of the Trinity. In the S. wall of the second stage is a square-headed window. The bell-chamber has, in the E., N. and W. walls, a window of two trefoiled lights in a two-centred head with a label and defaced stops.
The North Porch has a 14th century outer archway, with chamfered jambs and segmental-pointed arch of two chamfered orders; the window above it is modern.
The roof of the chancel has a plaster ceiling (Plate 59) of barrel-form erected in 1638 by Sir John Strangways; it is of three bays each divided into four panels by moulded ribs; in the angles are conventional leaves, leaves with human faces and tortoises; in the main panels are seraphs with stars and angels holding scrolls inscribed "Goodwill towards men and on earth peace"; in the lower panels are strapwork cartouches of the alliances of the Strangways family - (a) Sir Gyles Strangways and Joan Wadham; (b) Henry Strangways and Margaret Manners; (c) Gyles Strangways and Joan Mordant; (d) John Strangways and Dorothy Thynne (e) Sir John Strangways and Grace Trenchard with the date 1638; (f) Gyles Strangways and Susanna Edwards; on the W. face of this ceilings below the higher ceiling of the nave, are six cartouches of Strangways alliances, with Trenchard, Stafford, Edwards. Arundell, Orrel (?) and Talboys. The early 16th century roofs of the aisles are of pent-type divided into panels by moulded purlins and principals; the roof of the S. aisle was restored in 1693.
Fittings - Bells: six; 1st, 2nd and 3rd by Thomas Bilbie 1773; 4th by William Knight 1724; 5th by Robert Austen 1636; 6th by T. Purdue, 1666. Brackets: On N.E. respond of arcade, hollow-chamfered shelf, early 16th century. In N. aisle - on E. wall, moulded semi-octagonal, with half-angel holding shield, 15th century. In S. aisle - E. end of S. wall, semi-octagonal, moulded and carved with paterae, early 16th century. Brasses: In S. aisle - on S. wall, (1) to Elizabeth Maurice, daughter of Rev. James Harris 1796; (2) to Rev. James Harris 1773, with winged hour-glasses and skulls; (3) to Grace Harris, widow of Rev. James Harris, 1811, shield-shaped. Candelabrum (Plate II): In nave - of brass with two tiers of eight branches, 18th century. Chest: of cast iron with names of churchwardens and overseers, dated 1835. Churchyard Cross: S.W. of S. aisle, square to octagonal base with socket, mediaeval. Coffins: In churchyard - parts of three stone coffins with shaped heads; also small lid with plain raised cross. Font: Octagonal bowl, each face with two trefoiled ogee-headed panels, moulded under edge, plain stem, 15th century, base modern. Glass: In N. chapel - in E. and N. windows, in the tracery heads, symbols and shields-of-arms in ruby, brown, yellow and white, 18th century. In N. aisle - in second window, in the tracery IHS, foliage and the Last Supper, 18th century. In S. aisle - in second widow, upper part of a female saint (Plate 16), probably the Virgin, fragments of borders and quarries with grisaille work, late 15th and early 16th century; in the sixth window, a double fleur-de-lis, 15th century; the S. windows also contain miscellaneous pieces of 18th century glass mostly in the tracery; in W. window, Christ with a banner with half-length figure below, much faded, 18th century. Monuments and Floor-slabs. Monuments: In N. aisle - on N. wall (1) to Maria, Countess Dowager of Ilchester, daughter of William Digby, Dean of Durham, and window of Henry Thomas, Earl of Ilchester, 1842, stone wall-monument with inscription panel in elaborate frame of 15th century style with crested top, flanking pinnacles and achievement-of arms below. In S. aisle on S. wall, (2) to Hon. Giles Digby Robert Fox-Strangways, third son of Henry Thomas, Earl of Ilchester, 1827, white marble wall-tablet by Reeves and Son of Bath; (3) to John Jennings, 1836, and later inscriptions to Anne his wife, 1860, white marble wall-tablet by Hellyer of Weymouth. In porch - (4) Purbeck marble slab (Plate 176) carved in relief with figure of abbot with cashuble and maniple, crozier in right hand book in left, c. 1200, lower part modern repair. On tower - on exterior of S. wall, (5) to Stephen Lock, 1774, and Elizabeth his wife, 1767, stone tablet. Floor-slabs: In tower - (1) to William Chilcot, 1691, and [Mary, his wife, 1669-70]. In churchyard - N.W. of church, (2) to Henry Bever (?), 1670 (3) fragment with the name German 16,,; S. of S. aisle, (4) to … Richards 1673. Piscina: In S. aisle - in E. wall, rectangular recess with round and perhaps quatrefoiled drains cut back, mediaeval. Plate: Includes a silver-gilt set of a cup and two patens by Daniel Piers, and a flagon by Paul Lamerie, all of 1748, given by Mrs Strangways-Hormer and engraved with her arms, and a bread-knife with blade marked Gillo in embossed sheath given by her in 1755. Pulpit (Plate 123): of oak, octagonal, with enriched pilasters and brackets at angles, enriched base-panels and frieze, two ranges of enriched arched panels in each face; sounding-board with enriched entablature and brackets at angles, on soffit, painted shield-of-arms of Egioke (?) impaling Denham; standard with three ranges of enriched arched panels, early 17th century, with modern work. Recess: In N. aisle - in N. wall, small rectangular recess with stepped shelf. Reredos (Plate 66): of painted wood and plaster, with panelled centre-piece and Corinthian side-columns supporting an enriched entablature and pediment, given by Susannah Strangways-Horner in 1751. Royal Arms: on front of W. gallery, Hanoverian 1714-1800 carved in wood and coloured, mounted on panel with scroll border. Miscellanea: In tower - over W. window, formerly above the tower-arch, large plaster panel moulded in relief with achievement of quartered arms of Sir John Strangways c 1638 (Plate 56). In N. porch - panelled oak post, 15th century; over N. doorway, panel with weathered carving of the Crucifixion, 15th century. In churchyard - numerous architectural fragments from the abbey, 12th to 14th century.'

<2> Newman, J, and Pevsner, N, 1972, The Buildings of England: Dorset, 71-2 (Monograph). SWX1290.

<3> Emden, A B, 1977, Medieval Decorated Tiles in Dorset (Monograph). SDO13180.

<4> Historic England, Historic England Archive, BB44/00933 (Index). SDO14738.

A view of the north-east corner of St Nicholas' Church, Abbotsbury

<5> Historic England, Historic England Archive, OP24467 (Index). SDO14738.

A view of St Nicholas' Church, Abbotsbury, from the south-east

<6> Historic England, Historic England Archive, OP24468 (Index). SDO14738.

A view of the north-east corner of St Nicholas' Church, Abbotsbury

<7> Historic England, Historic England Archive, OP10374 (Index). SDO14738.

The parish church of St. Nicholas, Abbotsbury. St. Catherine's Chapel was built by the Benedictine monks of Abbotsbury Abbey on a hilltop to the south-east of the abbey complex as a pilgrimage chapel.

<8> National Record of the Historic Environment, 1572643 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Feb 17 2025 2:29PM