St Mary's Church

Services

Until about 1300 the villagers probably worshipped in the nave of the Abbey Church. It was then that the monks built this church and dedicated it to St Mary the Virgin. Traces of the original 14th century church can be seen in the chancel. The lancet windows on each side of the altar are the original early English windows; as is the blocked doorway on the south chancel wall. Remains of a 14th century piscina, for washing the vessels at Eucharist, is built into the wall to the right of the altar. To the left of the altar there is an early 14th century wall painting of four scenes from the life of John the Baptist. On the wall to the right is a portrayal of the Annunciation. Doubtless the medieval church was painted in bright colours all around the walls.

The east window is 15th century. It may have been salvaged from the Abbey. It appears to be the upper part of a much larger window. The window contains 16 stained glass shields form the Brownyng family and are all that remain of 40 such shields in Dorset as recorded by Jacob Chaloner in 1600.

The screen, nave and aisles were added in the mid 15th century. An arch was inserted in the screen in 1870 so that the east window could be seen from the nave. Above the arch are what remains of three painted panels of the ten commandments and the royal arms. A photograph at the back of the church shows how it looked before the arch was constructed. The richly carved oak pulpit is dated 1640. The date is carved on a shield on the back panel. The font is 15th century on a modern base and plinth. The painted cover was added in 1963.

On both sides of the nave painted shields contain biblical texts. Three of these were painted in 1679 by Robert Ford for which he was paid twelve guineas. The texts are from the Geneva (known as the Breeches) Bible of 1560. An additional text was added in 1967 when the most recent restoration work was carried out. Modern translations of the text can be found on hand boards.

The upper windows were added to the nave in 1530 by Thomas Corton, the 34th and last Abbot of Cerne Abbas. His initials T A (Thomas Abbot) are above two of the windows on the south wall. The stained glass fragments, that can be seen in most of the windows of both the south and north aisles, probably came from the east window when it was restored in the 19th century. The window in the south aisle next to the porch shows St John on the Isle of Patmos in his vision of the worship of heaven. It is by Hubert Westlake and is dated 1910.

The wooden screen between the nave and the tower was erected in 1749. The date together with the names of the two church wardens is above the door.

There are two most unusual memorial panels painted in black. They record details of notables in Cerne. One is in the north aisle by the Lady Chapel altar and the other to the right of the porch door. Two memorial tablets in the floor of the nave refer to the Notley family. Some of the family were early settlers in America and owned Cerne Abbey Manor in Washington, the site on which Capitol hill stands today.

The altar rail kneelers were made by members of the church to commemorate the millennium of the foundation of the Benedictine Abbey in AD987.

The tower, complete with primitive gargoyles, was added in the late 15th century. A stone carving of the Madonna and Child stands in a niche above the West door. It is one of the few such statues to escape destruction by Cromwell's men. The five 17th and 18th century bells were not rung for over 70 years because the frame holding them was unsafe. In 1974-75 they were dismantled and re-cast and a sixth bell added.

To the left of the porch door is an open mouth gargoyle which is the chimney outlet for a fireplace in the priest's chamber. Look for the 13th century stone coffin and lid. It is likely this came from the Abbey. The burial ground is at the north end of Abbey Street. It is approached through an iron gate beyond the duck pond. Only a stump remains of an old preaching cross at the right hand side of the path. A further door, to the north of the burial ground, leads to a field which is the site of the Abbey.