Whitcombe Church

Whitcombe Church is a stone religious building in the Dorset countryside with distinct building phases from the Middle Ages onwards. The core nave dates from the 12th century, while the chancel was added in the 15th century and the tower was constructed in the late 16th century.

The site preserves fragments of two Saxon crosses, evidence that people worshipped there before the current stone building was constructed in the early 12th century. The building sections added over later centuries show how the site evolved to meet changing needs.

The walls inside display medieval paintings showing religious figures and stories, with a 13th-century stone font that once symbolized the beginning of religious life for worshippers. These artworks reveal how the community expressed its faith through visual storytelling.

Reaching the building means crossing a field and climbing over a stile, as there is no dedicated parking area. Keep in mind that the site has no electricity, water supply, or restroom facilities, so plan accordingly.

English poet William Barnes delivered both his first and final sermons from the pulpit here, with the structure remaining unchanged since 1885. This connection links the site to a notable literary figure whose life and work were deeply tied to the local region.