Church Of Unknown Dedication

ST 60 SE UP CERNE UP CERNE VILLAGE 8/246 26-1-56 Church of Unknown Dedication (formerly listed as Parish Church) GV II*

Parish Church, now private chapel. Possibly C15 origin, largely rebuilt 1870, organ chamber dated 1912. Banded flint and rubble, some ashlar and some render, ashlar dressings. Nave roof of tiles (some scalloped), chancel slated. Plan: nave, chancel, north chapel and organ chamber, west tower. West tower: 3-stages separated by moulded strings; embattled, ashlar parapet; diagonal buttresses with off-sets; 2-centred west window of 2-lights; rectangular loops to second stage; lancets to third stage. Nave: 3 paired lancets to the south, one to the north. Chancel; 2 south windows, one north, all are Cl6 2-light windows with square heads and returned labels; each light having a 4-centred head, central south door with wave moulded 4-centred head and continuous jambs (blocked); C15 3-light east window with 4-centred head, returned label and 'Perpendicular' tracery. Organ chamber: single lancet. Chapel: 2-centred, 2-light window with quatrefoil and returned label. Gabled porch with chamfered 2 centred arch and probably Cl5 small female figure reset. North doorway is 2-centred with 2 chamfered orders and has a partly Cl7 or earlier plank door with strap hinges and original lock. Internal features : Cl9 2-centred chancel arch with ovolo-mouldings, flat soffit, impost capitals and chamfered jambs; Cl9 2-centred tower arch with continuously chamfered flat jambs; C19 4-centred chapel arch with cusps, 2 chamfered orders; organ chamber has 4-centred, cusped arch with flat jamb to right and shafted, corbelled jamb left; early C17 fielded panel pulpit with reeded panel below and strapwork above; chapel screen and lectern have panelling similar to pulpit but may be a later copy; some box pews of uncertain date; nave has ribbed barrel-vaulted roof with carved bosses springing from head corbels; plain plastered chapel ceiling; various C19 and C20 wall tablets; Cl2 font with square Purbeck marble bowl with round head panels, and some scallops, cylindrical stem with later subsidary shafts; Cl7 floor slab; Cl9 glass. RCHM, Dorset, vol I, p 86, no 1. Newman J and Pevsner N, Buildings of England: Dorset, Penguin, 1972, p 432.

Listing NGR: ST6583002742