Listed Building record MDO21119 - Parish Church of St Mary, Abbey Street, Cerne Abbas

Parish Church, fourteenth century chancel, with east wall rebuilt in the seventeenth century, fifteenth and early sixteenth century aisle walls and west tower.

Parish Church. 14th century chancel, with east wall rebuilt 17th century, 15th century and early 16th century aisle walls south porch partly rebuilt, west tower within the body of the church, early 16th century. Clearstorey added early 16th century. Wall above stone screen removed, and existing arch built in 1870, when church restored under T H Wyatt. <3>

1962, Wall-painting in the Church of St Mary the Virgin, Cerne Abbas, Dorset. Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society 84, 109-110 (Article in serial). SDO20722.

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

<1> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments England, 1952, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume I (West), 74-77 (Monograph). SDO97.

‘(1) PARISH CHURCH OF ST. MARY (Plates 100, 122) stands in the village. The walls are of stone and flint rubble with some ashlar and freestone dressings; the roofs are lead-covered. The Chancel was built probably c. 1300. About the middle of the 15th century the N. and S. arcades of the Nave were built and the North and South Aisles and South Porch added, the S. side being perhaps slightly the earlier; later in the same century the chancel-screen was erected. The West Tower was added c.1500 when the W. ends of the aisles and the W. bay of the arcades were rebuilt; the clearstorey was added c. 1530 and the W. part of the N. wall of the N. aisle was rebuilt at the same time. In 1639 the E. end of the chancel was pulled down and the present E. wall was built, W. of the earlier E. end. The porch was restored and partly rebuilt in 1696. A wall above the screen was removed and the existing arch built in 1870, when the church was restored and part of the S. wall of the S. aisle refaced. The architect for the restorations and additions was T. H. Wyatt.
The W. tower is a good example of its period and among the fittings the screen, paintings and pulpit are noteworthy.
Architectural Description—The Chancel (22¾ ft. by 19¾ ft.) has a 17th-century E. wall with a reset 15th-century window of six cinque-foiled lights with vertical tracery in a segmental-pointed head and moulded reveals; the splays and rear-arch have trefoil-headed panels; in the lowest panel on the N. is the date 1639; the internal sill is enriched with paterae. In the N. wall is a window of c. 1300 of one trefoiled light with a moulded label and weathered head-stops. In the S. wall is a similar window, now blocked; further W. are the E. splay and rear-arch of a doorway perhaps of the same date and partly destroyed by the arcade. The 15th-century N. and S. arcades are continuous in the chancel and nave and are of five bays, with moulded two-centred arches and moulded piers each with four attached shafts having moulded capitals and bases; the responds have attached half-piers; the E. bay on each side is wider than the rest and the screen was inserted at a slightly later date; the W. bay was rebuilt when the tower was added. The chancel-arch is modern.
The Nave (45¼ ft. by 20¼ ft.) includes the four W. bays of the arcades. The 16th-century clearstorey has, on each side, three windows each of three four-centred lights in a square head; on the soffit of the two western windows on the S. side are the initials T.A., perhaps for Thomas Corton, last Abbot of Cerne.
The North Aisle (10¾ ft. wide) has a 15th-century E. window of three cinque-foiled lights with vertical tracery in a two-centred head with moulded reveals and label with head-stops. In the N. wall are five windows, the three to the E. being uniform with that in the E. wall; the other two are similar in date and detail to the windows of the clearstorey; the western part of the wall, enclosing these two windows, is of the same date and is faced with alternate courses of ashlar and flint. The late 15th or early 16th-century W. wall has a window of three cinque-foiled ogee lights with tracery in a two-centred head with moulded reveals and a label with head-stops; the N.W. angle has a semi-octagonal buttress and the raking embattled parapet has carved corbels or gargoyles supporting pinnacles to each merlon, but the top of the anglepinnacle has been removed. Adjoining the angle is a late 15th-century doorway with moulded jambs and two-centred arch with foliage-spandrels.
The South Aisle (10¼ ft. wide) has an E. window similar to that in the N. aisle but with a modern label. In the S. wall are four windows, the three to the E. being similar to the E. window of the aisle, but two with varying tracery; the westernmost window is modern; between the two easternmost windows is a 15th-century doorway with chamfered jambs and two-centred head; it is now blocked; the 15th-century S. doorway has double-chamfered jambs and two-centred head; against the W. part of the wall there was, till recently, a house and the facing has been renewed; adjoining the S.W. angle is a length of early 16th-century wall and a doorway, in connection with this destroyed building; the doorway has moulded jambs and four-centred arch in a square head with traceried spandrels; the reveals and soffit have trefoil-headed panels. The W. wall is similar to the corresponding wall of the N. aisle and has a similar window; the pinnacles of the parapet are missing.
The West Tower (11 ft. by 12 ft.) is of late 15th or early 16th-century date and of three stages (Plate 100) with octagonal projections at the angles, a moulded plinth and an embattled parapet with quatre-foiled panels, pinnacles at the angles and the stumps of pinnacles in the middle of each side, standing on carved figures; the N.W. stair-turret rises above the parapet and has a central and eight subsidiary pinnacles. The E. tower-arch is moulded and two-centred and springs from shafted responds; the reveals and soffit have two bays of panelling with cinque-foiled ogee heads. The N. and S. walls have similar but smaller arches. The W. door way has moulded jambs and two-centred arch in a square head with traceried spandrels; flanking the doorway are panelled standards, set diagonally; the W. window is of four cinque-foiled ogee and transomed lights with tracery in a two-centred head, with moulded reveals and label with head and beast-stops; in the external reveals are two brackets and canopies for images, now missing; the brackets are carved with half-angels holding shields, one bearing a device of interlaced cheverons. The second stage has in the N. wall a window of two trefoiled lights, with a quatrefoil in a two-centred head with a label and head-stops. In the W. wall is a tall niche, with a moulded bracket, resting on a half-angel holding a scroll, side-standards, and a three-sided crocketed and spired canopy terminating in an angel holding a shield; in the niche is a carved figure of the Virgin and Child (Plate 10). Above this stage is a double string-course with a band of quatrefoils enclosing paterae or shields; three of these bear (a) a cross charged with five cinquefoils, (b) three cloud-bursts or wounds or escallops and (c) vair for Beauchamp of Hatch (?). The bell-chamber has, in each wall, a window of three trefoiled ogee lights with tracery in a four-centred head with moulded reveals and label with head-stops; below the transoms are cinque-foiled ogee heads; the lights are filled with pierced stone slabs of varying design with monograms S S and W. (O ?), Stafford knots and scrolls; tied back to the sills are free-standing standards, set diagonally and resting on corbels carved with grotesque beasts and a man with bagpipes and a monkey on his shoulder also playing an instrument.
The South Porch has a 15th-century outer archway with moulded jambs and four-centred head. A panel in the embattled parapet bears the inscription "C.W. Willi. Tulledge, Tho. Dussell, 1696"
The Roof of the chancel is of the 17th century and of three bays with cambered tie-beams. The 16th-century roof of the nave is of seven bays with tie-beams supporting short king and queen-posts.
Fittings—Bells: five; 1st, 2nd and 3rd by Thomas Bilbie, 1762; 4th by William Knight, 1747; 5th by R. Purdue, 1631, cracked. Brasses: In chancel—on screen, (1) to Joseph, son of George and Edeth Sommers, 1702–3, inscription only. In nave—(2) to John Notley, jun., 1626, inscription only; (3) to John Notley, 1612–3, inscription only. Loose in vestry— (4) to Richard Bartlett, 1715–6, and Ann, his wife, 1742–3, inscription only. Candelabrum (Plate 11): In nave—stem with two globes, urn and flame finial and two tiers of branches, third quarter of the 18th century. Chest: In chancel—of hutch-type, panelled front with moulded and enriched rails and styles, 17th-century, two later; locks. In vestry—of iron inscribed with the date 1817 and names of church-wardens. Churchyard Cross: In churchyard on abbey-site, remains of octagonal stone shaft set in octagonal base with hollow-chamfered plinth, probably 15th-century. Coffin and Lid: In S. aisle—stone coffin with shaped head; lid with ornamental incised cross and stepped calvary, 13th-century. Communion Rails: with moulded rails and turned balusters, late 17th or early 18th-century. Communion Table: In S. aisle—with turned and enriched legs, carved top-rails, initials and date B.K. 1638 W.S. cut on front edge of top. Font: octagonal bowl with chamfered under edge, probably mediæval, stem and base modern. Glass: In chancel—in E. window, numerous late 14th-century shields-of-arms, some fragments made up into shields with modern glass; (a) Browning impaling Newburgh, (b) or a cheveron between three leopards’ heads gules (one missing), (c) fragments, (d) Wickham, (e) fragments, (f) Berkeley, (g) gules fretty argent on a quarter sable, a fret or, (h) damaged coat Bulkley quartering Zouch, the whole impaling Browning quartering Matravers, (i) Parnham (?), (j) fragment, (k) England, (l) fragment, (m) Browning, (n) much damaged, probably Bingham impaling Baskett, (o) Turges, (p) Fitzhugh, also 15th-century fragments including a rose and a man's head. In N. aisle—in W. window, two fleurs-de-lis and a shield-of-arms of the See of Exeter, early 16th-century. In W. window of S. aisle— sun and fleurs-de-lis, 15th-century. Monuments: In chancel—on S. wall, (1) to Thomas Cockeram, 1862, his wife Anne, 1847, and two sons, white marble walltablet in Gothic framing. In N. aisle—on N. wall, (2) to Dr. William Cockeram, 1679–80, framed oak panel with broken pediment and painted achievement-of-arms; (3) to Mary (Tulledge) wife of Robert Farr, 1720, his daughter Elizabeth, 1722, Robert Farr the elder, 1741, and his great-grandson Charles Farr the younger, 1754, vari-coloured marble wall-tablet with apron, pediment and urn. In S. aisle—on S. wall, (4) to Philip Watson, alderman of Dublin, 1661, Samuel Ebenezer, 1667, Priscilla, 1667, and James, 1670, children of Samuel Watson, vicar, framed oak panel with painted achievement-of-arms; (5) to Elizabeth Foord, 1766, Robert Foord senior, 1768, and Robert Foord, 1771, white marble and stone wall-tablet with apron, pediment and urn; (6) to Susanna Turner, 1750, and George Turner, 1750, wall-monument of stone and slate with apron, cherub's head, shaped pediment and urn; (7) to Samuel Randall, 1785, his wife Elizabeth, 1769, and others later, black and white marble wall-monument with side pilasters, apron, cornice, urn and a cartouche with painted arms much faded, a coronet and crest; (8) to Thomas Boys, 1774, and others, white marble wall-tablet with cornice and urn. In churchyard on site of abbey—(9) to Edward White, 1671, headstone; (10) to Gorg White, late 17th-century, table-tomb; (11) to Richard Ovesell, 1709 (?), head-stone; (12) to Walter Dussel, 1619, table-tomb; (13) to Elizabeth Cockeram, 1665 (?), headstone; S. of cross, (14) to John Summers, 1679 (?), headstone; (15) to Judith (Sherrey), wife of William Forse, 1670, headstone; (16) to Sarah, daughter of William Sherrey, 1662, and to William Sherrey, 1680, headstone; (17) to Anne, daughter of Richard Dowding, 1694, and to Richard Dowding, 1694, double headstone; (18) to Sarah (Rotwell), wife of George Coombs (?), early 18th-century, headstone; further E., (19) to Robert Thomas, 1685, headstone; (20) to John Hodges, 1710, and John, 1698, and James, 1712, his grandsons, table-tomb; (21) to Robert White, 1753, table-tomb with emblems of mortality; (22) to Mary, daughter of Thomas Combs, 1713, and later inscriptions, table-tomb; (23) to Philip Romen, 1668, and Phil, daughter of Nath. Ryall, 1744, table-tomb. Paintings: In chancel —on N. wall and E. splay of window—four scenes from the life of St. John the Baptist (Plate 26), (a) St. John rebuking Herod and Herodias, (b) the Execution with Salome receiving the head on a charger, (c) the Baptism of Christ, with attendant figures including an angel holding a robe, (d) an entombment probably of St. John, with figures in background, two defaced subjects above, late 14th-century, some heads retouched. In nave—on N. wall, fragments of black-letter inscriptions with the date 1679. In N. aisle—on N. wall, painted panels with texts from Romans XIII, 1, and Ephesians V, 22, 23, 17th-century. In S. aisle—over S. doorway, similar texts, 17th-century. In N. aisle—on first pier of N. arcade, oak panel with painted bust of Christ, with the inscription "This similitude of our Saviour Christ Jesus was founde in Amarald and sent from ye great Turk to Pope Innocent the 8 to redeem the brother which was taken prisoner by the Romans", probably 17th-century, a late example of a group of English paintings deriving from 16th-century Italian medals with a bust of Christ on the obverse and a similar inscription in Latin on the reverse. In chancel—on N. wall, incised marigold pattern in a circle painted red, mediæval, perhaps a consecration cross. Panelling: At back of pulpit— some mutilated linen-fold panels, early 16th-century. Piscina: In chancel—recess with trefoiled ogee head enriched with small roses, label and finial cut back, square drain, 14th-century probably not in situ. Plate: includes a cup and paten of 1767 and a pewter plate probably of early 18th-century date. Pulpit (Plate 101): of oak, octagonal with enriched rails and cornice, two tiers of enriched arcaded panels; sounding-board, octagonal with enriched pendant arch on each face and cornice; soffit with radiating panels and central pendant; supporting standard at back with enriched pilasters at sides and two enriched panels, the lower with an arch and the upper with the date 1640 on a shield. Screen: Between chancel and nave—of stone with a central doorway and six lights on each side, doorway with hollow-chamfered jambs and four-centred head, and above it four cinque-foiled lights, similar heads to side lights, 15th-century, cornice modern. Seating: In nave—two coffin-stools with turned legs, 17th-century. Stoup: In tower— S. of W. doorway, recess in wall with front of bowl cut away, mediæval. Miscellanea: In S. aisle— fragments of pinnacles. On S. aisle—W. of porch, large grotesque face with open mouth, 15th-century reset gargoyle. In second stage of tower—15th-century fragment with quatre-foiled panelling; fragments of 13th-century columns; piece of lead with the names of the churchwardens and the date 1682. In church enclosure—at S.W. angle, stone wall with plinth bearing the initials and date I.H. and F. (or E.) H. 1576.
The Churchyard, at the N. end of the village, is entered by a 17th-century gateway with moulded jambs, round arch and panelled imposts; flanking it are shell-headed niches and the wall is capped by three plain pinnacles.’

<2> Historic England, Historic England Archive, BF034115 (Index). SDO14738.

ST MARY'S CHURCH, CERNE ABBAS

<3> National Record of the Historic Environment, 514423 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Apr 16 2025 3:53PM