Listed Building record MDO26649 - Parish Church of St Osmund, Evershot

C12 chancel-arch reset, and tower-arch. C15 north arcade, and tower rebuilt. Church restored and largely rebuilt in 1852-3, and in 1864 by R H Short, when chancel, nave, north aisle and upper part of the tower were rebuilt. Ham stone plinth, coursed dressed stone walls with ashlar Ham stone quoins. Tiled roofs, with stone gable-copings and C19 crosses at apices.

(ST 57240449) St Osmund's Church [NAT]. (1)

St Osmund's Church. C12th cancel arch reset, and tower arch. C15th North arcade and tower rebuilt. Church restored and largely rebuilt in 1852-3, and in 1864 by R H Short when the chancel, nave, North aisle and upper part of the tower were rebuilt.

Grade II*. (2-4)

St. Osmund's, Evershot (Monograph). SDO18217.

Helyer, P J, St. Osmund's, Evershot (Monograph). SDO18269.

Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1896, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Antiquarian Field Club, 64-66 (Serial). SDO10.

By the Rev. P. H. MILNE.
Read August 22nd, 1895.
WITH regard to Evershot Church, which stands 600ft. above the sea level, its renovation took place at two different times the chancel being rebuilt in 1864 and the other parts of the edifice in 1852-53. The previous old church was principally of the date of the 15th century, and consisted of a western tower, south porch, nave, north aisle, north and south transepts, and chancel. In the nave of the previous church there was a semi-circular roof with ribs running square panels, with gilded bosses covering each intersection of the ribs. There were three galleries the new gallery, built and occupied by subscribers, the children's gallery, and the singers' gallery.
The first and original church was a building of Norman character, about the time of Richard I., i.e., 12th century, as shown by the remains of the tower and chancel arches, and by the arches opening into the then north and south transepts (which, according to Hutchins, were doubtless chapels, since relics were found in pulling down the walls.) The details were, however, mostly of the 15th century, as well as the columns and arches of the arcade on the north side. The old chancel was built in a debased style about 1765, but the old chancel arch formed a part of the original edifice, of the 12th century, and has now been rebuilt between the north aisle and the organ chamber. The new chancel, like the present church, is mostly in the style of the 15th century. The nave has three bays on each side, the south arcade being in imitation of that on the north, which formed a portion of the ancient edifice. The greater part of the old tower is still remaining, but it has been rebuilt from the level of the belfry upwards with the addition of a new west door and window, angle buttresses, and a spiralet. The original Norman font remains. The pedestal, in the form of a cross, is, however, modern.
The clock was presented by the 3rd Earl of Ilchester at a cost of £150, and, in passing, I may say that it stands in great need of restoration, both internally and externally. We are going to undertake this at once.
The tower originally contained four bells, which were recast and two added in 1775 at a cost of £100. On the 6th bell is the following inscription : -" I to the church the living call, and to the grave do summon all. 7 Mr. John Pitman, churchwarden. T. Bilbie, fecit, 1775."
The original church was dedicated to the Blessed Virgin ; the new to S. Osmond. On the floor of the chancel is a brass plate, representing a priest in eucharistic vestments, with chalice and host. It is 18½ in. in length, and is in an excellent state of preservation. Underneath on another plate is this inscription in Latin, of which the following is the English translation : "Pray for the soul of William Grey, formerly Rector of this church, who died the 18th day of March in the year of our Lord 1524, on whose soul may God have mercy. Amen."
I should like to call attention to the shape of the nave, which is practically a square. The reason why this is so is as follows :- When the church was restored in 1852 it was thought desirable to enlarge it. It was impossible to do this in length owing to the old chancel being in the way, so the only alternative was to increase its width. I would also like you to notice that the chancel is not in the middle of the east end of the church, and I would suggest that the piscina in the south aisle and the niches in the pillars of the arcade on the north side are worthy of notice.
The first rector of this church of whom there is a record (his name was Hervens) was instituted between 1152 and 1184, and it will be a matter of interest to all, and perhaps of surprise to many, to know that the Poet Crabbe was Rector of Evershot from 1783 to 1786.
In conclusion it may be desirable to mention what has been done for this church in the last ten years, during which I have been associated with the parish as Curate and Rector. In 1887 Lord Ilchester replaced the old leaden roof, which was full of holes, by a new one composed of Broseley tiles as his gift to the parish to mark the Jubilee of our Queen. At the same time the parishioners inserted an adequate heating apparatus (hot water) throughout the church at a cost of about 60. Lamps were also placed in the church, being substituted for the old candle chandelier and branches. In 1889 the organ was restored, renovated, and added to at a cost of 110, and since that time a font canopy has been given by Mrs. Martin in memory of a deceased daughter. The Litany desk has been given by the Sunday school children, and a considerable sum has just been spent on the bells, which were much out of order, under the kind superintendence of the Rev. M. Hankey, Rector of Maiden Newton ; and now, as I mentioned above, we are about to take in hand the church clock.

<1> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments England, 1952, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume I (West), 108 (Monograph). SDO97.

<2> Newman, J, and Pevsner, N, 1972, The Buildings of England: Dorset, 202 (Monograph). SWX1290.

<3> Ordnance Survey, 1:2500 scale, 1975 (Map). SWX1197.

(ST 57240449) St Osmund's Church [NAT]

<4> Department of the Environment, 1986, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest: Dorset (Parishes of Halstock, East Chelborough, West Chelborough, Melbury Osmond, Melbury Sampford,Evershot,Stockwood and Melbury Bubb), 11 (Scheduling record). SDO16428.

<5> National Record of the Historic Environment, 882420 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Jul 28 2025 3:41PM