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Winterbourne-Whitchurch (St. Mary)

WINTERBOURNE-WHITCHURCH (St. Mary), a parish, in the union of Blandford, hundred of Coombs-Ditch, Blandford division of Dorset, 5 miles (S. W.) from the town of Blandford; containing 541 inhabitants. It comprises 2866a. 3r. 37p., of which about 1390 acres are arable, 1198 pasture, and 258 woodland. The living is a discharged vicarage, valued in the king's books at £7. 16. 10½.; patron, Bishop of Salisbury; impropriators, E. M. Pleydell, and H. C. Compton, Esqrs. The vicarial tithes have been commuted for £95. The church is a long narrow edifice, with a south transept, and a low embattled tower rising from the intersection, and contains a curious ancient font. The Rev. Samuel Wesley, father of John and Charles Wesley who founded the sect of Methodists, and author of several poems on religious subjects, was born here during the incumbency of his father, who was ultimately ejected for nonconformity.

Transcribed from A Topographical Dictionary of England, by Samuel Lewis, seventh edition, published 1858.

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