The sculpture of St. Michael, recently replaced inside the west wall of the south aisle, is, together with the restored Purbeck Marble, Norman font, all that survives of the earliest structure on this site, where there has been worship since at least Norman times.
The majority of the Church - the chancel and the north and south arcades of the nave - is of the early thirteenth century. The south aisle, with its fine Early English arcade, is the better preserved. A rood screen once stood in front of the fine chancel arch, and a still-extant hagioscope on its south side housed a circular staircase which led to the rood loft.
The chancel roof is a good speciman of 16th century oak roofing, though the wagonroof in the nave did not survive the church's extensive 19th century restorations. The west tower was added in the fourteenth century.
In 1843 the major part of the west gallery was removed. following a public appeal in 1984 to restore the gallery, and an endowment in 1990 by the American scholar Richard Little Purdy in memory of the life and work of Florence Emily Hardy, a new 'Chair Organ' was built in 1996, by Brian Daniels of Chard.

Thomas Hardy's heart is buried here, and his tombstone which also contains the remains of his two wives, and other family tombstones are on the left of the path leading to the Church. The Church is the 'Mellstock Church' so lovingly described in 'Under the Greenwood Tree'. The tombstone of the former Poet Laureate, Cecil Day Lewis stands in the same line.

Directions to St Michael's, Stinsford, Dorchester, DT2 8PT

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Please try this this contact (courtesy of Crockfords Clerical Directory).

Calendar of forthcoming services and events

List of all services and events in this benefice

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