XXXIV. CERNE AND MINTERNE MEETING. 



box, the election was conducted by paper, with the result that all 

 three were elected. 



MINTERNE CHURCH. 



On the conclusion of the business, the members entered the 

 church, where Canon Ravenhill, addressing them, gave a short 

 description of the building from the pages of Hutchins (IV., 

 p. 482), showing the church as it was in the middle of the 

 eighteenth century. He said that since then there had been two 

 great alterations ; the tower was quite new, being built by 

 Admiral the Hon. Robert Digby in 1800, according to his diary. 

 The roof of the nave was also entirely new. It was, he believed, 

 designed by the late Lady Digby only a few years ago. The 

 Canon said that the historical monuments formed a very interest- 

 ing feature of the church. In the nave is a flat stone with 

 an inscription over the grave of the grandfather of the first 

 Duke of Marlborough, John Churchill, who died April 6th, 

 1652. 



On the north side of the nave is a monument to the Hon. 

 Charles Churchill, fourth son of Sir Winston Churchill, who at 

 the age of 13 was page to Prince George of Denmark. 

 William III. made him Governor of Kinsale, in Ireland. He 

 was one of the best commanders of foot in Europe. Queen 

 Anne made him Governor of the Tower of London and General 

 of the Army. He was at the Battle of Blenheim. For his many 

 great services he was made Governor of Brussels, Colonel of the 

 Coldstream Guards, and Governor of Guernsey- 



In 1702 he married Mary, daughter and sole heiress of James 

 Gould, of Dorchester. He died December 29th, 1714, at the 

 early age of 55. 



(The tapestry in Minterne House was placed there by 

 him.) 



In the north aisle, or Napier Chapel, are monuments to 



Humphrey Sturt, son of Humphrey Sturt, of Heckfield, 

 Hants, and Diana, daughter of Sir Nathanael Napier. 

 He was an only son. He died November, 1786, 

 aged 63. 



