Church History
The church stands high on a hill top, the tower is 15th century
and is embattled with pinnacles. This church has a great treasure, a
Roman stone,
a block of Purbeck marble, engraved and the earliest
inscription known in the county. A tribute to a Roman husband and father
exiled in Britain from his family and reads:-
'To Gaius Aristobulus, a Roman Citizen, aged 50. Rufinus and Marina and
Avita his children. Erected by Romana his wife.' In the valley of the
river Frome below are the graves of German soldiers who were held prisoner
here during the Great War.
The entrance hall (Narthex or some denominations refer to it as the
vestibule) has a
Tympanum stone situated above the door leading into the church.
It is said to be of great antiquity and may have been given to the church by
William Belet who was rewarded with the 'Manor of Fordington' by William the
Conqueror. It is recorded that St George came to the assistance of crusaders on
both the first and the third crusades.
If Belet went on the first crusade then it seems he was being hard pressed by
Saracens at the battle of Dorylatum 1097, when St George came to his aid. He and
his squire have fallen on their knees in thankfulness. There are some small
differences in the armour of the two groups.
Just inside the main
entrance is a small font like object. The author Thomas Hardy lived within
this parish and was a member of the restoration committee of the time. He
visited the church many times to speculate on this object, which is too
small to be a font and also too large to be a holy water stoup. Both it's
date and it's use are uncertain. Hardy's reports may be found in the records of the society for the
protection of ancient buildings.
Recently after much consultation, St George's undertook a reordering of
the church to make the church more welcoming, attractive, and
meaningful, by improving the entry and welcome area; creating an
appealing and useful space at the west end of the Church with the Font
as its focal point. With help and guidance of our Architects John
Stark, & Crickmay Partnership led on this occasion by Daniel
Cantrell of John Stark we came up with a plan of action approved by the
majority of the congregation. Four rows of pews were removed from
the back of the church and a new floor area laid first concrete and
then Marmoleum tiles were laid. St George's is the first grade 1 listed
church to lay this kind of eco friendly flooring in the country using
local contractors and where possible local material , the picture show
what a huge success story it has been.
We also had, custom made, a kitchenette, which folds away and appears
to be a cupboard, three notice boards, and a very lovely welcome desk
which stores our service books.
Since the changes we have made excellent use of the space for meetings
a Chrismtas Fair of Trees and numerous baptisms, the highest
number of in one year for over 20 years , wonderful news.
We have visitors from all over the World often looking up ancestors
recently a couple from Australia whose ancestor Robert Beavis was a
member of St George's and was transported to Australia as a convict for
stealing a sheep.
Another from Australia who was the GGGranddaughter of Bernard Handley
who is remembered on a plaque in the church and whose brother is buried
in a vault under the church .
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