cmomcorum. 



A DESCRIPTIVE SKETCH, COMPILED FROM NOTES MADE AT 



VARIOUS TIMES BY FORMER VlCARS. 



By the Rev. D. HOLLAND STUBBS. 



N the valley of the Char, near the village of Charmouth, 

 about midway between Bridport and Lyme Regis, 

 stands the ancient Whitechurch Canonicorum, 

 founded by King Alfred the Great about A.D. 897. 

 It is a building composed of various styles of 

 architecture, and consists of nave with north and 

 south aisles, transepts, chancel, and western 

 I tower. 



The first point of interest lies in the names by which it is so 

 honourably known. It would therefore be fitting perhaps to 

 observe what is generally believed to be the origin of the church 

 and its dedication. Upon good authority it is considered to 

 have been built by King Alfred, who united a few townships of 

 which he was presumably the owner for it is well known that 

 the Kings of Wessex held great estates in all this district and 

 built a church of stone on this his royal domain. As a rule, 



