Listed Building record MDO17730 - Parish Church of SS Magnus the Martyr and Nicholas of Myra, Moreton

Parish Church of St Magnus the Martyr and St Nicholas of Myra, with an apsidal santuary and nave was built in the Gothic style by James Frampton 1776, with additions in 1841 and 1848. A Medieval church which previously stood on this site consisted of a nave, chancel, south tower and chapel to the east of it. Grade 'B'. (2)

Parish Church of SS Magnus the Martyr and St Nicholas of Mryra, (formerly listed as Church of St Nicholas). The base of a Medieval font later altered to form a sundial is near the South door of the church. (3)

Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1900, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Antiquarian Field Club for 1900, xxxvi-xxxvii (Serial). SDO14.

On reaching Moreton Church, after a drive of six miles, the Rector, Rev. Vernon A. Busbridge, said a few words about the church, though he admitted that there was nothing really old in it.
The parish itself was interesting. They had a complete list of Rectors from 1298 down to himself. The old registers began in 1565 and continued to 1631 ; but they were burnt in the great fire at the Rectory in 1740. Their present registers began in 1741. The church had had two dedications. The first was to St. Magnus the Martyr, and he still received letters thus addressed. The second dedication was to St. Nicholas of Myra, in Syria. Originally the church consisted of a chancel not an apse, as now nave, south aisle, and tower. Three bells, with the tower, fell down in 1603. Mr. Frampton, the squire of the time, pulled the old church down in 1777, and in the same year built the present one, which was opened on December 21st. The north aisle was added in 1840 and the porch in 1847. There were only two bells in the tower. Originally there were five, but three were taken down on account of the ringers being nearly always intoxicated, and a clock was substituted for them. The clock had not been going for some time, and he had ordered a new one, which would be dedicated by the Bishop early in November. In the chapel was a brass dated 1523. The chapel, which was dedicated to the Holy Trinity, was pulled down and rebuilt and converted into a family pew with a comfortable fireplace. The fireplace had long been unused, and the church was now very agreeably warmed by the new heating apparatus. There seemed always to have been only one churchwarden for the parish, who signed himself "sole churchwarden." His predecessor (the Rev. Charlton Frampton) was repeatedly asked to have two, but did not like to break through the old rule. The same request had been made to himself, but hitherto he had evaded it.

<1> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Map 6in, 1902 (Map). SWX1540.

(SY 80548928) St Nicholas's Church (NAT)

<2> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume II (South East) Part 1, 174-5 (Monograph). SDO148.

<3> Newman, J, and Pevsner, N, 1972, The Buildings of England: Dorset, 300-1 (Monograph). SWX1290.

<4> National Record of the Historic Environment, 455349 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Aug 4 2025 12:41PM