The Church Of The Holy Rood      --      Wool, Dorset, U.K.

Bindon Chapel
The small chapel in the north east corner is the Bindon Chapel which was once larger than at present, as part of it was taken in when the vestry was enlarged.
 

Murillo-style painting

For some time the above painting of Mary belonging to Holy Rood Church was in storage as its condition was deteriorating. It was given to the Church by the Revd Eric Tarrant who was Vicar of Wool from 1929-40. The painting probably dates from the late eighteenth or early nineteenth century, but draws its inspiration from the work of the seventeenth century Spanish artist Murillo. Towards the end of 2007, the Parochial Church Council decided to have it restored by a professional conservator. The work included strip-lining and re-stretching the canvas, cleaning the surface and repairing some minor damage. It has also been re-framed in line with the conservator’s recommendations and re-hung in the Bindon Chapel.

    The painting in 2008

North Porch

 

The North Porch, although rebuilt in 1866, retains much of its 15th century appearance.
 

Triple Arch


The special feature of the church is the triple chancel arch, which is possibly unique.  The tympanum is plain and the whole screen dates from the middle of the 14th century.
 

Windows


The windows are mainly 15th century and were re-used in the 1866 rebuilding.
 

Coombe windows


The stained glass windows on the north side were removed from Coombe Keynes church at the time of its redundancy.

 

Font
The font and the two stone arches on the north side are 15th century.
 

Coombe Stoup
The water stoup exhibited on the window sill in the north aisle was once fitted into the wall of Coombe Keynes Church and removed in 1974.
 

Cresset
The cresset stone (also on the north window sill) containing four receptacles in which wicks floating in oil were burnt before a shrine, is a fine example of mediaeval work, and was discovered during the rebuilding in 1866.
 

Flute


The flute was one of the instruments belonging to the church band, before the organ was introduced. The band would probably have played in the gallery, which in the 3rd edition of Hutchins was referred to as follows: "In 1852 the interior arrangement of the church was improved by the removal of the singing gallery to its present position behind the tower arch. It formerly extended much further into the church and was a great source of disfigurement"
 

Shepherd's Crook


The shepherd's crook displayed in the north window sill was used by Walter 'Shep' Trevett, a local shepherd, who for many years before the days of electricity pumped the organ for services until the 1930s.
 

Lectern

The brass eagle lectern was given as a memorial to Mr Plumer the organist in the early part of the century.
 

Crucifix


The crucifix above the chancel arch was given by the late Mr S.J. Tong. It was carved by Mr Edward Tong in memory of two sons, Herbert, who died of wounds in 1917, and Arthur who died some years later from wounds received in 1918.
 

Pulpit


The pulpit was removed from St. Mary the Virgin, East Stoke, on its redundancy and replaced the stone pulpit which stood on the opposite side of the aisle.
 

Reredos

The reredos at the rear of the altar was made in 1925.

 

Altar Cloth
The church possesses an ancient altar cloth, which is in the custody of the Dorchester Museum.  It was made up from portions of  15th and 16th century vestments in 8 vertical strips.  The vestments are thought to have come from Bindon Abbey after the Reformation.

Bells

A large photograph of the six bells (reproduced below) hangs in the ringing chamber. It is inscribed:

“In commemoration of the re-hanging of Wool Bells, with the addition of two new ones in 1907, and in memory of the Rev. A.C.B. Dobie, M.A. who whilst Vicar of Wool from 1896 to 1912 was mainly responsible for this work.  He loved his church and served it faithfully. Given by his son.”
 

There are six bells still used regularly.  There were only four originally, with another two added in 1907.

The bells' details are:
 

3rd bell
(1738)
4 cwt
 

Inscriptions and makers:
1. "In loving memory of my dear mother and my dear grandmother Caroline Esther Hedgecock. 1906. Florence Dobie. John Dobie 1907."
Gillett & Johnson, Croydon
2. "Love God" 1606
John Wallis, Salisbury
3. "John Hayte CW. Anno 1738. WKBF"
William Knight, Closworth [?] (pictured above)
4. "Serve God. W. 1606"
John Wallis, Salisbury
5. "C. W. T. B. Anno Domini 1659".
Thomas Purdue, Closworth [?]
6. "These bells rehung, tenor and treble added, 1907. Arthur C.B. Dobie, Vicar. Jas. Spicer and Walter Wright, churchwardens."
Gillett & Johnson, Croydon
 

An ancient rhyme regarding the twelve bells from Bindon Abbey at the time of the Dissolution of the Monasteries reads: “Wool streams and Coombe wells, Fordington cuckolds stole Wool bells.” The bells were believed to have been hidden in a lane near the church and removed by men from Fordington St George. The lane was later called Bell Drong.  (Drong is  a West Country word for a narrow lane.)  Eventually, Fordington, Wool, and Coombe Keynes shared the bells.
 

If you would like to listen, use this player:

Chalices
The church possesses an Elizabethan chalice with a cover originally used as a paten, bearing the date 1571. 

There is also a chalice belonging to the church on display at the Victoria and Albert Museum.  Originally from Coombe Keynes and known as Coombe Keynes Chalice it is a fine example of pre-reformation work.
 

Registers
The registers of Wool and Coombe Keynes dated from 1583 are now in the County Archives at Dorchester.
 

Former vicars
The previous vicars of Wool and East Stoke are listed at the back of the church.

The Wool photo will be updated one day - meanwhile apologies for the poor quality.

War Memorial



The War Memorial in the churchyard is a plain Latin cross and was erected in 1921.
 

Setting
Although the church now stands on the edge of the village, it was not always so. Church Lane was once a busy road. A hundred yards past the church the road forked; one road to East Stoke, another through Wood Street and into Purbeck, another to Coombe Keynes, running parallel some quarter of a mile east of the present road.
 

Hutchins 3rd edition also referred to the position of the church: " - it is conveniently situated on gently rising ground in the Southern part of the village. There is a tradition among the people, that some time ago it formed the central point of the village; and within the memory of the present generation, changes have taken place which have made it less so than formerly, some houses near the church having been pulled down, and others built at a greater distance, in common, Bindon Lane etc."


 

Text based on the current Holy Rood Guide written by Alan Brown (2003) and used by permission.
 

Alan is also the author of two excellent books on local history "A Backward Glimpse of Wool" and "The Changing Face of Wool".
All three books are available direct from him - tel. 01929 462761 or write to "Willowmead", Bindon Lane, Wool, Wareham, Dorset BH20 6HG.
 



(Website photos are by Chris Irwin.)

Views from the Church Tower - coming one day (we hope!)

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Copyright © 2004 Holy Rood Church, Wool
Last modified: Sunday, 14 February 2010