Listed Building record MDO27201 - Parish Church of St Andrew, Trent

Parish Church. Nave and north chapel of C13 origin, altered and extended. South tower and porch added early C14. Chancel rebuilt in C15, when nave lengthened. Repairs of 1694 and 1729 (panels on south wall). Restoration of 1840. Organ chamber and west vestry, C19 additions.

(ST 58951853). St Andrew's Church [NAT]. (1)

Parish Church of St Andrew. The North chapel is of C13th origin and the nave presumable the same or earlier. South tower and porch are C14th. The chancel was rebuilt in the C15th and the nave lengthened circa 1840 by the Rev. W H Turner. the spire was rebuilt in 1908-9, and the church generally restored in 1925. Excellent interior furnishings include a screen built to the very best Devon standards. (2-3)

Le Pard, Gordon, 1998, Medieval sundials in Dorset. Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society 119, 83 (Article in serial). SDO21411.

<1> Historic England, Historic England Archive, OP24673 (Index). SDO14738.

A view of a carved wooden pew end in St Andrew's Church, Trent

<2> Historic England, Historic England Archive, OP24672 (Index). SDO14738.

A view of a carved wooden pew end in St Andrew's Church, Trent

<3> Historic England, Historic England Archive, OP24671 (Index). SDO14738.

A view of a carved wooden pew end in St Andrew's Church, Trent

<4> Historic England, Historic England Archive, OP24670 (Index). SDO14738.

A view of a carved wooden pew end in St Andrew's Church, Trent

<5> Historic England, Historic England Archive, OP24668 (Index). SDO14738.

A view of a window in St Andrew's Church, Trent

<6> Historic England, Historic England Archive, OP24667 (Index). SDO14738.

A view of a carved wooden pew end in St Andrew's Church, Trent

<7> Historic England, Historic England Archive, OP24666 (Index). SDO14738.

A view of carved wood panelling in St Andrew's Church, Trent

<8> Historic England, Historic England Archive, OP24665 (Index). SDO14738.

A view of carved wood panelling in St Andrew's Church, Trent

<9> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments England, 1952, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume I (West), 253-256 (Monograph). SDO97.

‘(1) PARISH CHURCH OF ST. ANDREW (Plate 203) stands at the W. end of the village. The walls are of local rubble with ashlar and dressings of Ham Hill stone; the roofs are covered with stone slates and modern slates. The North Chapel is of 13th-century origin and the Nave is presumably of the same or earlier date, though there is no definite evidence of this. The South Tower and Porch were added early in the 14th century. The Chancel was rebuilt in the 15th century and the nave was lengthened at some uncertain period; this is said to have been done, probably incorrectly, in 1840 when the church was restored and there are two panels on the S. wall of 1694 and 1729, no doubt the dates of repairs. The church was again restored in 1925 when the spire was largely rebuilt; the Organ Chamber and the West Vestry are modern additions and the N. wall of the N. chapel has been rebuilt.
The church is of some architectural interest and among the fittings the screen, pews and monuments are noteworthy.
Architectural Description—The Chancel (25¼ ft. by 15¼ ft.) is of the 15th century, ashlar-faced with a moulded plinth; above the buttresses are carved figures of a muzzled bear and men playing musical instruments. The E. window is of four cinque-foiled ogee lights with vertical tracery in a two-centred head with moulded reveals and label with returned stops. In both the N. and S. walls are two windows, similar to the E. window but of three lights; the S. doorway has moulded jambs and two-centred head with a label. The chancel-arch has moulded responds and two-centred arch; the responds have been partly restored.
The Nave (59¼ ft. by 19¾ ft.) has, in the E. wall, the 15th-century lower doorway to the rood-loft staircase; it has moulded jambs and four-centred head; the upper doorway is square-headed; the staircase was continued beyond this point but is not now accessible. In the N. wall is a 13th or early 14th-century archway, two-centred and of two chamfered orders, the outer continuous and the inner dying on to the responds; E. of the arch is a rectangular opening to a cavity in the wall; to the W. is a modern archway; further W. again are two much restored three-light windows of 15th-century character. In the S. wall are two modern windows similar to those in the N. wall; immediately E. of the eastern window are the E. splay and part of the sill of a mediæval window and between the two windows is a straight joint indicating the former extent of the nave; the early 14th-century S. doorway is two-centred and of one continuous chamfered order. The 15th-century W. window is of three cinque-foiled lights with vertical tracery in a two-centred head with a moulded label and returned stops; the W. doorway is modern.
The North Chapel (18¼ ft. by 12¼ ft.) has a restored early 14th-century E. window of three trefoiled ogee lights with tracery in a two-centred head with a moulded label and head-stops. The N. wall and windows are modern. In the W. wall is a blocked lancet-window, probably of the 13th century; further N. is a modern doorway. Reset in the W. wall of the Organ Chamber is a 15th-century window of one cinque-foiled light.
The South Tower (about 12 ft. square) is of early 14th-century date and of three storeys finished with a trefoiled corbel-table with head-corbels, a parapet of pierced quatrefoils and pinnacles at the angles. The tower-arch is two-centred and of two chamfered orders, the outer continuous and the inner dying on to the responds. In the E. wall of the ground-stage is a window of two trefoiled lights with tracery in a two-centred head with a label and head-stops; the rear-arch is moulded; further N. are the remains of a blocked squint with a pointed head; on the N.E. buttress is a large male figure with a pot serving as a gargoyle. In the S. wall is a window of three lights, one cinque-foiled and two trefoiled, with tracery in a two-centred head with labels, head-stops and a moulded rear-arch. In the W. wall is a doorway with chamfered jambs and elliptical head. The second storey has, in the E., S. and W. walls, a window of two cinque-foiled lights with a quatrefoil in a two-centred head with a label and headstops; in the N. wall is a doorway to the nave-roof, with chamfered jambs and two-centred head. The bell-chamber has, in each wall, a window similar to those just described but larger. The top of the turret-staircase has a stone vault with six chamfered ribs springing from the newel and forming pointed arches. The stone spire has been largely rebuilt; it is octagonal with ribbed angles.
The South Porch is of early 14th-century date and has an outer archway, two-centred and of one continuous chamfered order with a moulded label and defaced head-stops. The porch has a high pent-roof against the W. face of the tower; the walls are finished with restored quatre-foiled parapets as are the walls of the nave.
The West Vestry is modern but reset in the W. wall is a 15th-century doorway with moulded jambs flanked by small square buttresses set diagonally; the head is modern.
The Roof of the nave, of mid 19th-century date, has angels holding shields-of-arms of the Apostles at the springing of the vaulting ribs. The roof of the porch is of early 14th-century date partly restored; it is of two bays with moulded braces forming segmental arches; at their intersection with the central purlin are bosses carved with conventional leaves; the trusses rest on moulded corbels carved with heads and leaves.
Fittings—Bells: six; 2nd late 14th-century and inscribed "Augustine tuam campanam protege sanam"; 3rd early 14th-century, London foundry, inscribed "Campana Sancti Andree de Trente"; 4th by Roger Purdue, 1603; 5th mid 15th-century, from Bristol foundry and inscribed "Sce. Maria ora pro nobis"; 6th by John Kingston at Bridgwater, 1819. Bier: of oak, with four cabriole legs and draw-handles, with initials and date T.S., R.H., 1757. Brackets: In nave— on S. wall, carved head-corbel, 14th-century. In porch —on N. wall, moulded corbel with head below, 14th-century. Brasses: In chancel—on S. wall, (1) to Thomas Putt, 1844, inscription-plate. In N. chapel— on N. wall, (2) to Henry Seymour, 1849, and Jane his wife, 1869, inscription flanked by lozenge-shaped plates engraved with shields-of-arms partly coloured. Chair: In chancel—with turned front legs, shaped arms, panelled back, enriched top-rail and scrolled cresting, 17th-century. Chest: In vestry—with enriched styles and rails, panelled front and ends, initials and date I.H., I.T., 1629 on top rail and middle panel. Churchyard Cross: S. of church—part of square shaft with leaf-ornament at angles, moulded circular base, 15th-century, upper part and steps modern. Coffin: In porch—of stone, mediæval. Doors: In S. doorway—of nail-studded battens with ribs forming vertical panels and strap-hinges, wooden lock, mediæval. In tower—in W. doorway, of two leaves and of nail-studded battens, with vertical panels and strap-hinges, 17th-century. In W. vestry—in W. doorway, of two leaves with four-centred head, moulded frame and panelled styles, each leaf with two trefoil-headed panels and a quatrefoil and a shield with a saltire and an engrailed border above, early 15th-century. Font-cover: In tower—octagonal, with base of pierced quatrefoils and pyramidal top with pierced traceried sides, crocketed angles and finial, 15th-century. Glass: In chancel—in E. window, collection of 16th and 17th-century Swiss, German and other glass placed here in the 19th century, collection includes scriptural scenes, heraldry, saints etc., and came among other places from St. Gallen, Wettingen, Lucerne and Cologne; in N. and S. windows, all of similar design and date, 1842, probably by Wailes, consisting of twelve main lights containing figures of the Apostles beneath elaborate canopies and sixteen tracery lights with angels holding shields-of-arms of friends of the Rector, with a black-letter inscription in the N.E. window recording the gift of the glass. In nave—in N. and S. windows, all of similar style and date, 1849, with scenes from the life of Christ in the main lights and emblems and shields-of-arms in the tracery; in W. window, in the head of the main lights and in the tracery, 15th and 16th-century fragments including a piece of black-letter inscription and a quartered shield-of-arms, in the rest of the main lights figure subjects, 1842, and modern emblems. Helmets etc.: In N. chapel, on N. wall, late 16th-century close-helmet (Plate 18) with roped comb and added gorget-plates, the original plates have invected edges; 17th-century sham helmet made up with a genuine early 17th-century skull-piece and gorget-plates from a pikeman's suit; remains of carved wooden crest of Wyndham; also parts of two pairs of gauntlets of c. 1600 and the early 17th century. Monuments: In Chancel—on N. wall, (1) to Tristrum Storke, 1530, and Alies (Bingham), his wife, painted stone panel with frame, cornice and five shields-of-arms (a) quartered shield of Storke impaling Bingham quartering Turberville, (b) Compton impaling Storke, (c) Seymour impaling Storke, (d) Larde (?) impaling Storke, (e) Gerard impaling Storke; on S. wall, (2) to Thomas Hussey, 1630–1, freestone wall-monument with Corinthian side-columns, curved pediment, crests and strapwork cartouche-of-arms. In N. chapel—in recesses in N. wall, (3) freestone effigy (Plate 22) of man in civil costume with gown, hood, belt with long sword, dog at feet, 14th-century; (4) freestone effigy (Plate 22) of man in armour with bascinet, aventail, hip-belt etc.; head on helm with crest of a bird, feet on dog, c. 1380; against E. respond of arch to nave, (5) to Ann (Coker), wife of Thomas Gerard, 1633, freestone monument (Plate 114) consisting of plain side-columns supporting an entablature with an achievement-of-arms of Gerard quarterly of sixteen impaling Coker quarterly of nine and supported by angels, painted decoration on respond at back with the inscription "J. Williams Yeovil pinxit et restauravit 1792"; soffit of arch above painted with a genealogical tree with shields-of-arms of Gerard and Coker and their alliances, forty shields in all, restored in 1792; on S. wall, W. of arch, (6) to William Gerard, 1604, alabaster and slate tablet (Plate 19) with central arched panel enclosing painted achievement-of-arms, side-pilasters, cornice, plinth, apron and two shields-of arms; (7) to Sir Francis Wyndham, Bart., 1676, and to A.W., 1698, stone slab. In the nave, (8) to Sir Francis Wyndham, Bart., 1715–6, wall-monument of white marble (Plate 150) with Corinthian columns, pulvinated frieze and broken pediment, an achievement-of-arms, cherub-heads and other enrichments. In tower—in N.W. angle, (9) to Elizabeth, widow of Ralph Martyn, 1693, marble panel with moulded frame. In S. porch— (10) freestone effigy of priest in mass-vestments with head on two cushions, 14th-century, broken and mutilated. In churchyard—by S. porch, (11) to Thomas Bucke, 1628–9, and M . . ., his sister, table-tomb; (12) to Gideon Pillard, 1697, Frances his wife, 1733, John, 1703, and Rose, 1724, his children, and Elenor, his daughter, wife of Samuel Noake, 1707, flat slab. Niches: In chancel—flanking E. window, ogee crocketed heads with vaulted soffits, 15th-century. Panelling: On W. respond of arch to N. chapel, 17th-century panelled dado. Plate: set dated 1737 (Plate 30) consisting of cup and cover-paten, flagon and alms-dish. Pulpit: octagonal with carved angles including figures, each face with cartouche below and figure-subject above under enriched arch as follows— (a) Annunciation, (b) Nativity, (c) Adoration of the Magi, (d) Presentation, (e) Circumcision, (f) Christ with the doctors, (g) David, probably Dutch and of c. 1600, cornice and part of stem modern. Royal Arms: In nave, over S. door—Hanoverian, painted on wood. Screens: Between chancel and nave (Plate 204)—of oak and of five bays including doorway, divided by grouped shafts supporting ribbed soffit of loft; except N. bay, each bay with close lower panels, six to a bay, with trefoiled ogee and crocketed heads, moulded and carved rail; open upper panels of six cinque-foiled ogee lights with vertical tracery in a two-centred head; side bays except N. bay, with carved transoms and cinque-foiled ogee and traceried heads under the transoms; door-bay generally similar but with transom at door-head and plain heads to lights in doors below it; N. bay with tracery and panels framed round head and S. jamb of doorway to rood-loft staircase; loft with moulded ribs and lierne-ribs with carved bosses and open tracery in cells, loft finished in front with deep moulded cornice with three bands of foliage-ornament and carved brattishing; E. face of screen generally similar in lower part but with later pilasters supporting a classical cornice in place of the vault and with keystones in the middle of each bay; screen, 15th-century with 17th-century alterations and some modern restoration. In front of archway to N. chapel—low screen of oak, of five bays including doorway, divided by carved brackets, arched panels below and enriched panels above; N. side with plain lower panels and enriched upper panels, mid 17th-century. Seating: In N. chapel —a pair of mahogany twin settles with hollowed seats, fluted arms, legs and framing, two large roundels in the back of each containing carved crests, a heron's head erased holding a fish in its beak within a wreath, and smaller roundels in the arms, c. 1800. In nave —numerous pews with moulded and panelled backs, two desks with poppy-heads to bench-ends, rest with square-headed panelled bench-ends (Plate 33) carved with window-tracery, figure of St. John the Evangelist, symbols of the Passion, design with grotesque face, two birds, hound and stag, initials Ihs and Ma, eagle and bird and four ends bearing the inscription "Ave Maria gratia plena Dominus Tecum Ame.", others are against the wall, early 16th-century; a number added to match are dated 1840 with the shield-of-arms of Turner. Weathercock: On spire, of copper with rounded body. On the wings are the names of the rector and churchwardens, the maker and the date, George Gaylard, 1698. Miscellanea: In porch —painted notice to remove pattens and clogs, early 19th-century. Oak boss with dragon, leaves and grapes, late 15th-century.’

<10> Newman, J, and Pevsner, N, 1972, The Buildings of England: Dorset (Monograph). SWX1290.

<11> Ordnance Survey, 1:2500 scale, 1973 (Map). SWX1197.

(ST 58951853). St Andrew's Church [NAT]

<12> National Record of the Historic Environment, 882806 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

May 1 2025 12:27PM