St. Michael, Hamworthy, Dorset
Description
The parish church of St. Michael, rebuilt in 1826, is an edifice of stone, incorporating much of the old material, and consists of chancel, nave, and fine embattled western tower, with pinnacles, containing a clock and one bell: the church was reseated in 1860, and in 1897 was redecorated and new heating apparatus put in at a cost of £80 : in 1901 a new marble pulpit was presented at a cost of about £100 by Miss Slade, as a memorial to her father, who died in the church on Christmas day, 1888; in the same rear a new font was given by the late Rev. Edmond Sellon M.A. rector here 1887-96, in memory of his nephew, Melville Sellon: in 1902 the church was again redecorated, the chancel new-roofed, and choir stalls and a new lectern provided: there are about 300 sittings. A piece of land measuring 2 roods 33 perches was given by Lord Wimborne in 1897 for the enlargement of the churchyard, in which is a large mound, said to mark the burial place of some Cromwellian soldiers.
Church Records
The register of baptisms dates from the year 1826, and of burials from 1811: the entries previous to these dates were made in the register of Lytchett Minster. The original register books are now deposited with the Dorset Archives Service, but have been digitised by Ancestry.co.uk and made available on their site (subscription required).