Churches date back as far as 2000 years. They’re a place to go to worship and create a sense of community.
A place to celebrate God and a sanctuary from the harsh modern world. Churches are also a place to get married and celebrate love and life.
Visiting a church can be a wonderful experience with the magnificent architecture and charming stained glass windows.
Here are 14 beautiful churches in Dorset, along with their locations.
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The Minster Church of St Cuthburga
The Minster Church of St Cuthburga in Wimborne has been a significant religious site for over 1300 years.
Known for its chained library, which we covered in this article, one of the very few still in existence, this church is also notable for its blend of Norman and Gothic architectural features.
Its astronomical clock and vibrant quarter jack are an interesting attraction for visitors.
This Grade I listed building, primarily constructed from Dorset limestone and New Forest stone, stands with a central length of 198 feet and a 95-foot western tower.
The church houses ten bells, with the original bells dating back to 1385, all carefully preserved and expanded upon through the centuries.
📍 High St, Wimborne Minster, Wimborne BH21 1EB
Christchurch Priory
Christchurch Priory is a stunning medieval church. It is one of the longest parish churches in England, measuring 311 feet.
The church showcases beautiful architectural styles ranging from Early English to Perpendicular Gothic.
Visitors can enjoy the lovely Priory Tea Rooms, offering snacks and drinks in a serene setting.
Historic highlights include windows from the 12th century and a tribute to NHS workers.
📍 Quay Rd, Christchurch BH23 1BU
Sherborne Abbey
Sherborne Abbey dates back to AD 705 when St. Aldhelm founded it. The building has transitioned from a Saxon cathedral to a Benedictine abbey and is now a parish church.
It is famous for its stunning fan-vaulted roof and the Great West Window by John Hayward.
The Abbey is more than a historical site; it remains a vibrant place of worship. Visitors can enjoy guided tours between April and November.
It is also known for its choir, music, and bells—the heaviest peal of eight bells in the world.
📍 The Abbey Close, Sherborne, DT9 3LQ
St Nicholas’ Church, Moreton
St Nicholas’ Church in Moreton is a marvel of Gothic revival architecture. Originally dedicated to St Magnus Martyr, it was rebuilt in 1776, reusing its medieval foundations. The Frampton family financed the reconstruction.
The church features thirteen unique windows designed by Sir Laurence Whistler. Unlike the typical stained glass found in other churches, these unique engraved glass windows create a bright and airy interior.
📍 Moreton, Dorchester DT2 8RH
St Catherine’s Chapel, Abbotsbury
St Catherine’s Chapel stands majestically on a hill, offering breathtaking views of Chesil Beach and the Isle of Portland.
Built in the 14th century by monks from Abbotsbury Abbey, this chapel served as a place for pilgrimage and retreat.
Visitors can explore its unique features, including the ‘wishing holes’, which were once used by local women to pray for husbands.
The chapel’s grandeur is heightened by its lofty position and stunning architecture.
The chapel remains largely unchanged since medieval times, with high, buttressed walls and an impressive stone vaulted roof. Inside, it once boasted stained glass windows and brightly coloured details.
📍 Chapel Hill, Abbotsbury, Weymouth, Dorset, DT3 4JH
St Peter’s Church, Bournemouth
Nestled in the heart of Bournemouth, St Peter’s Church is a beacon of community and faith.
Built between 1844 and 1879 by renowned architect G.E. Street, the church stands as a testament to Victorian Gothic Revival architecture.
This Grade I listed building boasts a 202-foot spire, making it a prominent landmark.
Inside, visitors can admire beautiful stained glass, intricate alabaster, and stunning frescoes.
St Peter’s hosts various events and services, including a Sung Eucharist and Choral Evensong on Sundays.
The church community values education, art, music, and literature.
📍 Hinton Rd, Bournemouth BH1 2EE
St Aldhelm’s Chapel
St Aldhelm’s Chapel is a 12th-century Norman chapel perched on the cliffs of St Aldhelm’s Head in Worth Matravers.
The location offers sweeping views, 354 feet above the sea.
The chapel stands within ancient earthworks, hinting at an early Christian settlement.
Its square design, with sides of 7.77 metres, and unique alignment to the cardinal points, sets it apart.
Inside, a central column with medieval graffiti and an old wishing tradition adds to its charm.
The chapel is open daily, easily accessible by footpath from nearby parking areas.
📍 Worth Matravers, Swanage BH19 3LN
St George’s Church, Portland
St George’s Church is a gem of 18th-century architecture.
Built between 1754 and 1766, it was constructed to replace the old St. Andrew’s Church. The new church features the impressive Portland stone, and its design is reminiscent of the works of Christopher Wren.
The church’s interior is beautifully preserved, with original box pews, galleries, and twin pulpits.
The churchyard is filled with fascinating headstones and memorials, adding a sense of history and adventure to the site.
St George’s also hosts various community events, such as concerts, poetry recitals, and fairs.
📍 St George’s Church, Reforne, Portland DT5 2JP
Church of St Candida and Holy Cross
The Church of St Candida and Holy Cross is a remarkable site in Whitchurch Canonicorum. It traces its origins to a Saxon church, though the current structure began in the 12th century.
The church features Early English and Perpendicular styles, with some Norman elements. Its tower, built in the 14th century, stands prominently.
Inside, visitors can find the shrine of St Wite, one of the few in England containing relics.
The church is open daily from 10am to 4pm.
📍 Whitchurch Canonicorum, Bridport DT6 6RQ
St Peter’s Church, Dorchester
This Grade I listed building mainly dates back to the 15th century with its striking Portland and Ham stone ashlar construction.
The church boasts a mix of slate, tile, and lead roofs.
The south doorway, from the 12th century, hints at an older Norman church once at the site.
Visitors will find various historical treasures inside, including 14th-century effigies of knights and a 17th-century sarcophagus.
St Peter’s underwent significant restoration in the mid-19th century, supervised by architect John Hicks, with his student Thomas Hardy, the famed novelist.
The church reopened for worship in 1856 after these renovations.
📍 26 High E St, Dorchester DT1 1EZ
St Peter & St Paul, Blandford Forum
St Peter & St Paul stands proudly in the heart of Blandford Forum.
This Georgian gem was rebuilt after the devastating fire of 1731. It is renowned for its beautiful and tranquil interior, a surprising contrast to its austere exterior.
Inside, visitors marvel at the stunning wooden box pews and the Grade I listed organ by GP England. The pulpit, believed to be designed by Sir Christopher Wren, adds a touch of historical charm.
The church also showcases the intricately carved Bailiff’s Chair, used by the current Mayor of Blandford, and bears graffiti from centuries past, including inscriptions on pew doors and beams.
Recent restoration efforts have revived the tower and cupola. The rehanging of the Apprentice Bell, once used to signal the end of the working day, is also part of these efforts.
📍 Church Ln, Blandford Forum DT11 7AD
St Mary’s Church, Beaminster
St Mary’s Church, Beaminster, is a gem with a rich history.
While there has been a church since Saxon times, the current site saw a Norman church replaced in medieval times.
The striking 100-foot tower added around 1500 is a standout. It’s in the Perpendicular Gothic style and is adorned with 41 crocketed pinnacles and canopied niches featuring saints and Biblical scenes.
The oldest part, the east end of the north aisle, dates back to the 13th century. Beautifully carved corbels, including symbols of the Evangelists and various beasts, decorate the tower roof.
The 12th-century Purbeck marble font with its square bowl is a significant feature, as is the early 17th-century pulpit.
📍 Church St., Beaminster DT8 3BA
Our Lady Queen of Martyrs & St Ignatius
Our Lady Queen of Martyrs & St Ignatius, nestled in Chideock, Bridport, is a stunning example of Italian Romanesque architecture.
This church stands as a testament to the history of the Catholic martyrs and serves as a Marian shrine.
Visitors from the Bridport area and beyond attend Vigil Masses on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays at 6 pm and every Friday at 10 am.
The church is part of the Bridport Parish, known for its charitable projects and church maintenance efforts.
📍 North Rd, Chideock, Bridport DT6 6LF
St Nicholas’ Church, Abbotsbury
St Nicholas’ Church in Abbotsbury, dates back to the 14th century. It showcases stunning architecture. The 15th-century west tower and north chapel are especially noteworthy.
Inside the church, visitors find a Jacobean pulpit with two bullet holes from the English Civil War. The church’s medieval effigy, discovered in 1778, dates back to around 1200.
Impressive plasterwork decorates the chancel ceiling, featuring the Strangways coat of arms.
📍 Church St, Abbotsbury, Weymouth DT3 4JJ
1 comment
I lived in Dorset for a number of years until we left the UK. Having traveled to over 60 Countries I believe Dorset exposes a sliver of Heaven in a darkening world. The Hive Beach Cafe provides the best Fish and Chips in Britain and if it may be possible I should like my ashes to be scattered on Chesil Beach when my time has come to an end and I am called home. I expect there will be some reflections of Dorset in the New Jerusalem.