The Tower, dating from the 14th century, with its pierced parapet, has one of the three old stone spires which
may be found in the county of Dorset.
Most of the glass composing the patchwork of scenes in the east window appears to date from the 17th century.
They depict the Madonna and Child, the Crucifiction, John the Evangelist, and the Ascension. The chancel screen
is richly carved.
Various figures are carved on the ends of the pews includind birds, a deer, a hound, a man with a goblet,
and a scene of the flight into Egypt. The oak pulpit is carved with scenes from the life of Jesus.
The Sanctuary houses three old chairs, the vestry a chest of 1629 and the porch a bench inscribed with the
date 1757. Also in the porch is a stone coffin bearing the carving of a priest on its lid.
History
|
There may have been a Saxon Church or Chapel
in Trent and it has been suggested that some of the masonry built into the
Dairy House may have been part of this early building.
Sandison suggests that there may have been a church of wood or of
'wattle and daub' - failing a building, there may have been a
'preaching cross'
here.
|
None of the present Church predates the 13th century although, with a strong Christian presence during
Saxon times in nearby
Sherborne (where a
bishopric
was established in 705), it seems likely that there would have been some focus of Christian worship in the village.
|
The building of the new Church may have been commenced by the Bruyere family who held a third
of the manor of Trent at the time. The family died out before 1232 and it may be that it was their successors
at the manor, the Cantelupes, who actully started the Church.
| |
The building of a stone church on the present site commenced in the 13th. Parts of this building are
incorporated into the modern structure, probably in the Nave and North Chapel. The blocked up lancet window
in the west wall of the North Chapel is probably the oldest in the Church.
The Cantelupes gave their third of the manor, together with a third of the Church property, to the
Augustinian priory of Studley in Warwickshire (which the family had founded). The Augustinians were therefore
responsible for appointing one incumbent in three to Trent.
|
The Augustinian priory at Studley held a third of the manor and shared in the presentation of
the living until the Reformation.
It may be this connection with Studley that is responsible for the unsual stone spire of the
Church (there are only two others in Dorset), a feature much more common in Warwickshire.
The inscription on the treble bell, dated about 1370, shows it to have been presented by Studley;-
|
Augustine tuam campanam protege sanam
|
..... "Augustine keep thy bell in good tone".
|
|
Tradition recounts that the unusual carved pew ends, which would have otherwise certainly been
destroyed by the Puritans, were removed and hidden in the Manor House.
|
During the Commonwealth, the Puritan Committee "
for demolishing of Monuments of Superstition and Idolatry" was established in 1643. Its troops
visited Trent to carry out its work. They would have destroyed crucifixes, images and candlesticks and it was
at this time that the upper portion of the cross in the Churchyard was destroyed.
Recommend a Book for this Page
St. Andrew's Church, Trent
by Margaret Webster (2000)
A 'recent' (2000) NADFAS survey.
Annette Sanderson, a local historian, wrote a comprehensive and well researched history of the village, including
the parish church of St Andrew, which was published in 1969 but is now out of print.
Report made by the Royal Commission on Historical Monuments.
An account of the Parish of Trent by the Rev. Barnabas Smyth (1745), rector at the time.
Chantry Survey of 1549.
