Listed Building record MDO10839 - Holy Trinity Old Church, Old Church Road, Bothenhampton

Old Parish Church of the Holy Trinity, Bothenhampton was formerly a chantry chapel until the 16th century, when it became a chapel of ease to Loders. After 1889, when the modern church was built, it became a mortuary chapel. The nave was demolished and the west end of the chancel blocked, leaving only the Chancel and South Tower still standing. It has coursed rubble stone walls with stone quoins and a stone slab roof with stone gable copings. The Chancel appears to have been built in the 14th century and the South Tower added in the 15th century. The nave was of three bays, with a South Porch and was demolished in 1889, leaving only the NW angle. The church contains a possible 13th century font.

Old Parish Church of the Holy Trinity, Bothenhampton was formerly a chantry chapel until the 16th century, when it became a chapel of east to Loders <1>. After 1889, when the modern church was built, it became a mortuary chapel. The nave was demolished and the west end of the chancel blocked, leaving only the Chancel and South Tower still standing.

The church has coursed rubble stone walls with stone quoins and a stone slab roof with stone gable copings. The Chancel appears to have been built in the 14th century and the South Tower added in the 15th century. The nave was of three bays, with a South Porch and was demolished in 1889, leaving only the NW angle. <7>

The Chancel has a blocked east window of early 15th century date. The north wall has been rebuilt and contains a modern window. The west blocking wall was constructed in 1889 and incorporates a reset 15th century doorway. The South Tower is of two unequal stages with an embattled parapet with gargoyles and a short two stage buttress to the south. There are three rectangular belfry openings on the East, North and West sides. There is a window of two cinquefoiled heads and vertical tracery to the South.

The church contains a possible 13th century font with a plain circular bowl with splayed underside. <3>

Chapel dedicated to the HOLY TRINITY. Seemingly a chantry in AD 1553 and afterwards a chapel of ease annexed to LODERS <1> The old Parish Church of HOLY TRINITY was formerly a chapel of LODERS and is now used as a mortuary chapel. The walls are of local rubble with dressing of the same material, and the roof of stone slates. The chancel was built perhaps in the 14th century and the south tower was addded in the 15thc. The only remains of the former nave consist of the N.W. angle. The chancel is now shut off by a modern wall. <3>

Description in T2 <3> correct. The stonework of the tower is plaster covered. The stonework of the chancel has been re-pointed in recent times & fairly modern windows inserted into the north & south walls. The only remains of the nave now to be seen is the small portion of the NW angle which is overgrown. Still used as a mortuary chapel. F/54/124/2. Holy Trinity Church from SE. Graphical material omitted. <4>

<1> Hutchins, J, 1774, The History and Antiquities of the County of Dorset. Volume 2. 1st edition (Monograph). SDO9551.

<2> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Map 6in, 1928-38 (Map). SWX1540.

[SY 47529175] HOLY TRINITY CHURCH [GT] (Remains of) Mort. Chap.

<3> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments England, 1952, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume I (West), 29 (Monograph). SDO97.

'(1) Old parish church of The Holy Trinity, formerly a chapel of Loders and now a mortuary chapel, stands at the E. end of the village. The walls are of local rubble with dressings of the same material and the roofs are covered with stone slates. The Chancel was built perhaps in the 14th century and the South Tower was added in the 15th century. The only remains of the former Nave consist of the N.W. angle , and the chancel is not shut off by a modern wall. The modern church was built in 1889.

Architectural Description - The Chancel (22 ft. by 12 ft.) has a blocked E. window of early 15th century date; it has a two-centred head with a label and head-stops. The N. wall has been rebuilt and contains a modern window; at the W. end is the lower doorway to the former rood-loft staircase; it has chamfered jambs and four-centred head and is now blocked. In the S. wall is a modern window. The two-centred chancel-arch is of one continuous chamfered order and is perhaps of the 14th century. In the modern W. wall is a reset 15th century doorway with moulded jambs and two-centred head.

The South Tower (8½ ft. square) is of the 15th century and of two stages with an embattled parapet and gargoyles. The N. tower-arch has chamfered responds and a modern arch. In the S. wall is a partly restored window of two cinquefoiled lights with tracery in a two-centred head. The bell-chamber has, in the E., N and W. walls a rectangular window.

The Nave (about 28 ft. by 19 ft.) is only represented by a fragment of the N.W. angle.

Fittings - Bell: In modern church - one, by Thomas Purdue 1689. Book: In modern church - bible, 17th century. Chest: In modern church - of hutch-type with enriched top-rail and three front panels with rosettes etc., early 17th century. Communion Rails: with turned balusters, 18th century. Font: circular bowl with splayed underside, possible 13th century. Plate: includes an Elizabethan cup and cover-paten, the latter with the date 1575, a paten of 1728 and a flagon of 1789. Reredos: of oak, with Ionic pilasters, pediment and urn, 18th century.'

<4> Swatridge, G C, Various, Field Investigators Comments GCS, F1 GCS 21-SEP-54 (Unpublished document). SWX1169.

<5> Newman, J, and Pevsner, N, 1972, The Buildings of England: Dorset, 104 (Monograph). SWX1290.

<6> Redundant Churches Fund, 1979, Guide to the Holy trinity Old Church, Bothenhampton (Monograph). SDO18239.

<7> Pitfield, F P, 1981, Dorset Parish Churches A-D, 84-85 (Monograph). SDO10406.

<8> Redundant Churches Fund, 1989, Holy Trinity Old Church, Bothenhampton (Monograph). SDO18238.

<9> Historic England, Historic England Archive, BF051544 (Index). SDO14738.

HOLY TRINITY OLD CHURCH, BOTHENHAMPTON

<10> National Record of the Historic Environment, 450144 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Dec 22 2022 7:45PM