CAME AND O\VERMOIGN*E. xliii. 



The RECTOR (the Rev. E. C. Leslie) said : The little church, consisting of nave 

 and chancel, is dedicated to St. Peter. The original church must have been 

 erected in the 13th century, as parts of the walls, the window arch, and inner 

 splay of the east window, the base and pedestal of the font, are of that period. 

 Of the 14th century work there still remain the north and south doorways ; but 

 the latter, which might have led to the priest's cell, is built up. The original 

 north chancel window was also 14th century work. Of the loth century is the 

 east window, with the exception of the inner splay and window arch. There are 

 good Perpendicular windows of three lights with cinquefoil heads in the tower, 

 and also in the north and south sides of the nave. Two of the latter are 

 exceptionally good specimens of square -headed windows of the period. The 

 tower is late Perpendicular. The original roof of the church was waggon- 

 headed and plastered, and the chancel ceiling was divided into four compartments 

 by moulded oak ribs. The present roof took its place at the restoration of the 

 church in 1883. There is some excellent woodwork, notably the pulpit, on 

 which is inscribed the date 1624 and the initials "I. M.," standing for John 

 Meller, the Jacobean altar rails, and, most noticeable of all, the loth century 

 rood screen. The rood loft was probably dismantled in 1561 . The text " Let us 

 hear the conclusion of all things. Fear God and keep His Commandments, for 

 these toucheth all men, for God judgeth all things," is probably contemporary, 

 being a quotation from the Bishop's Bible. On the north side of the church are 

 the foundations of what might have been the rood loft staircase. The grave of 

 the poet Barnes, who was rector of this parish from 1862 to 1886, is close to the 

 south-west window. In the churchyard there is also the family vault of the 

 Dawson-Damers. The remarkable double-headed cross over the vault of the 

 Williams's, of Herringston, is said to be an exact copy of a cardinal's silver 

 pectoral cross, with the exception of the central crucifix. The old register has 

 been unfortunately lost. The first entry we have is in 1695. In the marriage 

 register there is the signature of Napoleon Louis Bonaparte as witness to the 

 nuptials on March llth, 1847, of Hugh Fortescue, Viscount Ebrington, and 

 Georgiana Augusta Caroline Dawson -Darner. In the Deanery* of Dorchester 

 there are but six mediaeval bells, of which two hang in this belfry. The largest 

 bell bears the inscription "Maria," the smaller a beautiful initial cross and 

 " Sane ta Maria." The hatchments appertain to the Dawson-Damers and Lady 

 Caroline Darner, and that in the tower to the last Lord Dorchester. Mr. Leslie 

 then gave particulars of the stained glass windows and of the monuments in 

 which the church is so rich. Over the fine tomb of Sir John Meller and Anne, 

 his wife, with its two recumbent effigies, still hangs Sir John's helmet. 



Mr. Leslie produced the registers and showed the autograph 

 of Louis Napoleon. After the party had thoroughly inspected 

 the church and the churchyard, they proceeded to 



* i.e., Dorchester portion. 



