Monument record MDO44669 - St James's Church, Chedington

The old church at Chedington stood a little to the north of the church consecrated in 1841, and consisted of a nave, a chancel, and a tower with three bells.

The rectory is not mentioned in the Valor of 1291, and the list of rectors commences with the date 1348. <1>

The church of St. James at Chedington, rebuilt in the 19th century, contains some old materials. <3>

The site is covered by lawns, and there are no visible remains of the old church. There are several old tombstones in the area to the east.

The list of rectors within the present church confirms the date of the original incumbent given by Authority 1. <5>

A fragment of Norman pillar piscina survives in the new Church of St James. <4> <6>

<1> Shipp, W, and Hodson, J W (eds), 1863, The History and Antiquities of the County of Dorset. 3rd edition. Volume 2, 88 (Monograph). SWX1269.

<2> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Map 6in, 1930 (Map). SWX1540.

(ST 48900561) St James's Church (NR) (Site of) (NAT)

<3> DOE (HRR), 1950, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest: Beaminster Rural District 1950 (Scheduling record). SDO17358.

<4> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments England, 1952, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume I (West), 89 (Monograph). SDO97.

‘(1) PARISH CHURCH OF ST. JAMES was entirely rebuilt in 1841.
Fittings—Bell: one, inaccessible but said to be of 1610. Monuments: In nave—on N. wall, (1) to William Hody, 173(5 ?)7, and William his son, 1780, wall-monument of white marble with apron, cornice and cartouche-of-arms. In the old churchyard—(2) to Samuel Hallet, 1684, table-tomb; (3) to Thomas Hallet, 1617, table-tomb; (4) to Robert Notley, 1698–9, and Dorothy his wife, 1707, table-tomb. Miscellanea: In S. porch—mutilated cap, possibly of an angle-shaft, built into W. wall, 12th-century.’

<5> Rigg, J, Field Investigators Comments JR, F1 JR 25-MAY-55 (Unpublished document). SWX1255.

<6> Newman, J, and Pevsner, N, 1972, The Buildings of England: Dorset, 148 (Monograph). SWX1290.

<7> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1982, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1981 (Serial). SDO81.

‘CHEDINGTON. Following the redundancy of the parish church of St. James, the 17th-century bell is now at St. Francis' School, Hooke, and the 12th-century architectural fragment, originally loose in the porch, will be deposited at the Dorset County Museum.’

<8> National Record of the Historic Environment, 192875 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Nov 13 2022 4:49PM