St. Edward the Martyr, Corfe Castle, Dorset

Description

The parish church of St. Edward the Martyr, rebuilt, with the exception of the tower, in 1859-1860, from designs by Wyatt, is of stone, in the Early English and Perpendicular styles, and consists of chancel with aisles, nave, aisles, north porch and an ancient embattled western tower with pinnacles containing a clock and 6 bells: the stained east window is a memorial to Lady Charlotte Bankes, and there are eight other memorial windows, including one to Captain Sir George Biddlecombe: the fine reredos, designed by the late G.E. Street R.A. was the gift of the Earl of Eldon: the ancient font is of Purbeck marble: the church has 600 sittings.

Church Records

The parish register of baptisms, marriages and burials begins in 1653. 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).