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 St Peter & St Paul - Blandford Forum, Dorset Posted by:  SMacB
N 50° 51.365 W 002° 09.832
30U E 558851 N 5634153
In 1731 a devastating fire swept through the Dorset town of Blandford Forum and destroyed most of the town's historic centre. Among the buildings damaged or destroyed was the medieval parish church of St Peter and St Paul.
Waymark Code: WMWHKC
Location: South West England, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 09/07/2017
Views: 0
"The parish church of St Peter and St Paul was built between 1732 and 1739 and is a classical building with a cupola on top of the tower. Outside of London, it is one of the few Georgian churches in the country. The design by John Bastard originally specified that the tower would have a steeple, but lack of money resulted in the wooden cupola instead, a decision that disgusted Bastard, who stated that "it will not keep the wett nor the weather out". Sir Frederick Treves was not a fan of the church's appearance, describing it in his 1906 Highways & Byways in Dorset as "ugly, and only tolerable from a distance". The interior remains relatively unaffected by Victorian interference and retains its font, pulpit, box pews and mayoral seat. The pulpit, originally designed for St Antholin's in London, is by Sir Christopher Wren. The organ, dating from 1794, is by George Pike England and is the most intact of his surviving works; it allegedly had been intended for the Savoy Chapel in London, but was too big, so George III supposedly gave it to Blandford instead. In 1893 the church was enlarged by moving the apsidal sanctuary out on rollers onto new foundations and building a new chancel behind it. The Victorians did install galleries to accommodate an increasing congregation, though these were removed in the 1970s, a change that Pevsner called "a visual blessing"." SOURCE - ( visit link) See Also - ( visit link)
Date the Church was built, dedicated or cornerstone laid: 01/01/1739
Age of Church building determined by?: Other reliable source
If denomination of Church is not part of the name, please provide it here: Anglican
Street address of Church:
St Peter & St Paul
Market Place
Blandford Forum, Dorset England
DT11 7AD
Primary website for Church or Historic Church Building: [Web Link]
Secondary Website for Church or Historic Church Building: [Web Link]
If Church is open to the public, please indicate hours: Not listed
If Church holds a weekly worship service and "all are welcome", please give the day of the week: Not listed
Indicate the time that the primary worship service is held. List only one: Not Listed
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