St Andrews Parish Church Fontmell Magna.

We offer a variety of worship services, please see below and we are always pleased to welcome visitors and  new-comers.  To find out more about our historic church please follow this link or go to  this map to find us.

FONTMELL: YOUR PARISH CHURCH NEEDS YOUR HELP

Dear Villagers – this is to let you know that your parish church of St Andrew’s, Fontmell Magna, will require some serious ‘tender loving care’ over the next few years. Can you help?

I need not tell you how much our beloved parish church is loved and appreciated. It is not only the principal building in our village and the focus of Christian worship and witness, it is also the venue for family baptisms, weddings, funerals, and other local and national commemorations. It is used regularly by our village church school. It is tenderly loved and tended by so many willing volunteers and is open every day of the year for everyone: a glance at the Visitor’s Book illustrates how the church is valued. We must keep it that way.

What is wrong? 

During the Quinquennial inspection in November 2022, it was evident that the condition of the North Aisle parapet had deteriorated over the previous 5 years. The cracking stonework could now also be seen at the base of the decorative pinnacles, with one at the centre leaning outward quite noticeably. Lead flashings at the back of the parapet are also becoming affected by the deterioration of the parapet above and there is water ingress becoming apparent. The scope of these repairs intends to make the stone parapet structurally stable, as well as removing ferrous metalwork to halt ongoing movement and make the roof structurally sound and watertight. The 2022 Quinquennial also highlighted the age of the church roof as a looming problem and recommended that the roof be monitored closely for leaks. This applies to the Nave and Chancel roofs as well as the North and South Aisle. This became a matter of urgent attention however in the autumn of 2023 during bad weather, with serious ingress of water firstly in the South Aisle and later in the North Aisle. The serious ingress of water in the South Aisle led to the Church Architect reporting to the PCC: “It is therefore my recommendation that the lead [on the South Aisle roof] be replaced entirely”.

Immediate work is also needed to the stone parapets on top of the North Aisle (pictured). The stonework is cracking with one of the pinnacles leaning quite noticeably.  The current estimated cost (capital funds) (this may change) for work on the pinnacles on the North Aisle and the roof of the South Aisle is ‘in the region of’ £200,000, which includes VAT which is reclaimable.

A small group of PCC members, with the support of others, will be applying to grant-making bodies for funds towards this work. But we as a village also need a fundraising campaign and I am sure that villagers will want to help. Keeping the Church’s structure in good order is a major task. However, the positive side to this challenge is the scope it gives for our wonderful community to yet again come together and have some fun, whilst at the same time helping to preserve our beloved old church for us and for future generations.

We have now set up a just giving page which we very much hope you will feel able to donate through the details and link are below.

Fontmell St Andrew - Fundraising - Just Giving Page LIVE: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/fontmellmagnachurch

Any questions please do be in contact with me (01747 811070 or robertwellen@btinternet.com).

Robert Wellen (Churchwarden – on behalf of the Fontmell PCC).

 Sunday Worship

1st Sunday	9.00am	'Breakfast Church' in Village hall
2nd Sunday	9.30am	Morning Worship
3rd Sunday	9.30am	Sung Communion
4th Sunday	9.30am	Holy Communion (CW)
5th Sunday	10.00am	Benefice Service in one of the Five Parishes.

Click here to find out more about happening in Fontmell Magna Village

The Parish of Fontmell Magna with Bedchester nestle in a rural setting in an area of outstanding natural beauty. There are thatched roofs and a meandering brook, arising from “Springhead” which is a centre for creative and sustainable living. The run of mills, ponds and bridges are a feature of the village. The village benefits from a shop with post office, pub and school and employers include builders, thatchers, farming and gardening trades, while the retired section of the community make a huge contribution to the life of the parish.

The Parish Church, is positioned high, overlooking the village, set in an award winning churchyard and maintained in a beautiful condition.  It is kept open daily by volunteers, inviting and welcoming local people and visitors to come through its doors for quiet reflective prayer, to view the interior and to experience the atmosphere of spirituality.

The sound of church bells rung regularly, plus the clock and carillon, are cherished by the villagers who have helped financially with repairs. Practical care of the Church property is supported by people well beyond the regular congregation.

The population of Fontmell Magna combined with the hamlet of Bedchester is in the region of seven hundred and fifty.  Many younger families choose to live in the area attracted by its beauty and by St. Andrew’s Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School. Church members tend to find themselves involved in many aspects of village life in such activities as the monthly village ‘newspaper’ (The Gossip Tree), the annual fete and many of the clubs that meet in the village. Witness to the involvement of the Church in the community and vice versa was evident in a “Community Jigsaw Family Service.”

Those who do not regularly attend services at St Andrew’s regard it as their church for baptisms, weddings and funerals and many attend services at major festivals. Special events such as concerts and the teddy bear parachute jump are well supported.

The church has a social committee which organises refreshments after the services, caters for special events such as the church meal on St Andrew’s Day and refreshments at concerts. They are also responsible for “Open House” which meets in the Church once a week during the summer and once a month in homes during the winter: this provides an opportunity for the whole community to meet for coffee and a chat. 

The church supports many charitable causes and give 10% of its general income to designated charities.  It also regularly supports and takes part in the Dorset Historic Churches Trust’s Ride & Stride event to raise funding for church buildings in the county.

We have an average attendance of 35 at 10.00am services and 15 at 8.00am services and enjoy a flourishing homegroup, where we study the bible, discuss and learn and pray together – and eat cake!

Breakfast Church All welcome:

We are trialling a new Breakfast Church in Fontmell the Breakfast Church event happens every month at 9am and is held on the First Sunday of each month in the Village Hall, a hot breakfast is served with Coffee or Tea, Toast, croissants etc  and all are welcome. The first half of the event is taken up with Breakfast and good company after which we have a 'Thought for the Day' All are welcoms and this is particularly conducive to families with young children.  

The school visits the Church for many and varied services and events.  Last year in the Church a very successful ‘Christmas and Easter Experience’ which was prepared by members of the benefice and presented for the top two classes of the school. We value this link and enjoy making our contribution to the life and worship of our local Church School.  

As a church we feel we have a duty to serve the whole community.  Whether or not you are a church member if you need support in any way please let us know.  Our Vicar The Rev'd David W John  will be happy to help in any way he can.

A Description of The Church

Set up high in the centre of the village, the majority of the present church of St Andrew was rebuilt in 1862/3 by Sir Richard Glyn, the Lord of the Manor, who owned most of the village and also provided it with what is now the Church of England Primary School.

The lower stages of the tower date from the early 15C and, re-set in the north wall of the north aisle, are four restored 15C windows.  A third stage was added to the Tower in the re-build to house the Ring of 6 bells.  Built of mainly greensand ashlar it has been described as one of the handsomest churches in the diocese and has a number of interesting architectural features.  In particular, under the battlements surmounting the original South Porch, were a variety of bas-reliefs and ornaments and the word "O Man Kyn bare tho y myn", followed by 1530 in latin numerals.

Designed by G Evans of Wimborne, the church consists of a wide nave, chancel and sanctuary with two side aisles.  The small St Martin's chapel was created at the east end of the North Aisle in 1957 and behind the 17C Communion Table the war memorial is carved in the wall.  Of unusual interest is the 16C carved oak screen beneath the tower arch, highly decorated and with a scroll around the edge which reads "Water King and Esbell his wif."

The single hammer beam roof is cross-boarded.  The Capitals of the gothic style arches in the nave and side aisles host a variety of finely carved angels and other figures.  The floor is tiled, the sanctuary tiles being a fine example of Pugin's work.  There are a number of good quality stained glass windows including the East, being by Clayton and Bell, and two from the 20th century.

The Tower houses a clock, made by William Monk in 1732 with Carillon (believed to be the work of John C Brine in 1750) which, every three hours, plays the hymn "Hanover" and a Ring of six bells, of which Nos 5 and 6 (Tenor) are mediaeval and Nos 3 and 4 of the 17C though No 3 (1641) was recast in 1912.