TURNWORTH  & ST. MARY’S  CHURCH

Located at the head of the beautiful Winterborne Valley, St. Mary’s Church is the second smallest within the Benefice.  Turnworth was mentioned in the Doomsday Book of 1085, and the church was built in the tenth century.  It underwent major restoration work in the 19th century, and of particular interest is its links with Thomas Hardy.  This scion of English literature, whose very name conjures up images of Dorset, was one of the architects involved in the restoration and his influence can be seen in the church interior where the ornately carved capitals were designed by him .  These represent various kinds of foliage containing  sand lizards, songbirds and a very striking owl.  The church has many other fine features including a beautiful marble altar back, a charming bell tower and an ‘Okedon’ window.  

 

Hardy retained his connection with St. Mary’s Church in his later life  due to his friendship with the Rector Thomas Perkins, and it is said that he regularly rode his bicycle from Dorchester to Turnworth in order to read the lesson at Evensong.

 

Turnworth itself is a small hamlet containing a scattering of farmhouses and cottages around the church.  The original manor, Turnworth House, burned down just after World War II and was reputedly the setting for one of Hardy’s best known novels, ‘The Woodlanders.’  After burning down, Turnworth House was replaced by a wooden colonial style bungalow.