Make this page my homepage
- Search using interactive map
- Complete list of churches
- Revealing royal arms
- Discover wallpaintings
- Using our churches
- Home
- Our churches
- Complete list of churches
- Tarrant Crawford, Dorset (St Mary's Church)
In a gentle valley above the River Tarrant, this simple and evocative church, which dates back to 12th century, is all that remains of a wealthy Cistercian nunnery - 13th-century Tarrant Abbey -to which it may have been a lay chapel.
Today, the long, elegant interior has oak furnishings and a beautiful 16th-century wagon roof. There are also several 13th-and 14th-century coffin lids set in the floor, probably of abbesses and nuns.
Best of all, however, are the ghostly 14th-century paintings, made to instruct and inspire the parishioners. These cover most of the walls of the nave, catching your eye as soon as you walk into the church. Though somewhat degraded, they still give a vivid impression of warmth and colour. It is unusual for such an early set of paintings to survive, albeit damaged.
The earliest, in the chancel, is 13th century and consists of a simple masonry pattern with a flower stencil. There are also 14th century depictions of St Margaret of Antioch, said to have been swallowed by a dragon, and three animated skeletons, who warn three princes of the emptiness of earthly rank and wealth.
The paintings on the north wall are more fragmentary, but you can identify St Michael weighing souls, and St Christopher carrying the Christ Child.
Discover more about the wallpaintings in this church
To locate this church on a map, click on the 'View on map' link that appears below the address information at the top of the page.
3 miles south east of Blandford, off A350
Nearest railway station: Hamworthy (8 miles)
ST 924 035
01/05/12
Following on from the success of our Discover Wallpaintings project last year we are delighted to announce the launch of…
St Andrew's Church, Winterborne Tomson, Dorset
A Dorset gem saved by the ghost of Thomas Hardy
The Church (no dedication), Whitcombe, Dorset
A saint, a mermaid and a lost dedication
Kingston Lacey
National Trust property
Athlehampton House and Garden
Heritage site
Last year, we welcomed over two million visitors to our churches. If each person donated just £2, this would enable us to keep our churches open, safe and watertight for you and future generations to enjoy.
Text code 'OCCT05' to 70070 to donate now (free from all networks).
Or use the button below to donate online.
Last year, we welcomed over two million visitors to our churches. If each person donated just £2, this would enable us to keep our churches open, safe and watertight for you and future generations to enjoy.
Text code 'OCCT05' to 70070 to donate now (free from all networks).
Or use the button below to donate online.
Click on images to view larger
The CCT is grateful to the Flickr group, Friends of the Churches Conservation Trust, for the images shown here. CCT is not responsible for the quality or content of images taken from Flickr.
Last year, we welcomed over two million visitors to our churches. If each person donated just £2, this would enable us to keep our churches open, safe and watertight for you and future generations to enjoy.
Text code 'OCCT05' to 70070 to donate now (free from all networks).
Or use the button below to donate online.
Why not make your visit more enjoyable and informed by finding out more about this church and the CCT before you visit?
You can download a range of publications below including the relevant county guide, and any walk round guides we have for this church.
Cornwall, Devon & Dorset County Guide (PDF, 4.5mb)
This free of charge short guide contains details of all the churches CCT cares for in Cornwall, Devon & Dorset. Printed copies of the county guide are also available at the church.
St Andrew's Church, Winterborne Tomson, Dorset A Dorset gem saved by the ghost of Thomas Hardy Off Marsh Lane, Winterborne Tomson, Blandford Forum, Dorset, DT11 9HA
See church page
The Church (no dedication), Whitcombe, Dorset A saint, a mermaid and a lost dedication Whitcombe, Dorchester, Dorset, DT2 8NY
See church page
St Leonard's Church, Berwick, Wiltshire Poignant monuments to lost children Berwick, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP3 5UA
See church page
Last year, we welcomed over two million visitors to our churches. If each person donated just £2, this would enable us to keep our churches open, safe and watertight for you and future generations to enjoy.
Text code 'OCCT05' to 70070 to donate now (free from all networks).
Or use the button below to donate online.
Last year, we welcomed over two million visitors to our churches. If each person donated just £2, this would enable us to keep our churches open, safe and watertight for you and future generations to enjoy.
Text code 'OCCT05' to 70070 to donate now (free from all networks).
Or use the button below to donate online.
All our Dorset churches are in CCT’s West region.
Dorset Historic Churches Trust
Last year, we welcomed over two million visitors to our churches. If each person donated just £2, this would enable us to keep our churches open, safe and watertight for you and future generations to enjoy.
Text code 'OCCT05' to 70070 to donate now (free from all networks).
Or use the button below to donate online.
If the access information for this church is listed as 'Keyholder nearby', this means that the key is kept by one of our invaluable volunteer 'keyholders', who usually live just a short walk from the church and can give visitors the key; sometimes this is a nearby hotel, pub, library, art gallery or other venue. You will find instructions explaining how to get the key when you arrive at the church.
Due to the historic nature of our buildings, only a very small number of them have heating or running water meaning that they can be cold, and very rarely have toilet facilities. The lighting is usually operated via a 'push button' timer or a motion sensor. We do apologise for any inconvenience the lack of facilities may cause.
Hiring our churches
FAQs
Job vacancies
Useful links
Latest news
Website feedback
Terms of Use
Privacy & Security
Accessibility
Sitemap
Write to us:
1 West Smithfield, London
EC1A 9EE
Give us a call:
020 7213 0660 (9.00am - 5.00pm Monday to Friday)
Email us:
central@tcct.org.uk
Help us conserve over 340 historic churches across England.
Your donations
Donate just £2 a month
Your time
Become a volunteer
Your support
Become a Supporter of CCT
© The Churches Conservation Trust 2012 / Registered Charity Number 258612
CMS: New Brand Vision | Website design: designbystructure Ltd
Watch our videos on Vimeo
Have you visited this church?
Why not share your experience with us?
Comments
There have been no comments made yet.
Write a comment
Please try another code if you can't read the letters and numbers.