Bere Regis (St. John the Baptist)

Limestone and flint tower of St. John the Baptist, Bere Regis, Dorset (June 2009).

Bere Regis Church is one of Dorset's most interesting. It has a fine early sixteenth century tower constructed of local limestone (Purbeck) and flint. The treasure of this church, however, are the carved and painted oak roof beams, which date from the fifteenth century. The protruding beams are carved into twelve figures dressed in medieval costume, probably either monastic figures or meant to represent the twelve Apostles. Whoever they are meant to be, the roof if definitely worth a look.

Sources:

• Betjeman, J., Sir John Betjeman's guide to English parish churches, revised and updated by Nigel Kerr. London: HarperCollins, 1993, p. 180.
• Hope, M., Dorset. In: Humphrey, S.C., ed., Blue guide: churches and chapels of southern England. London: Black; New York: Norton, 1991, pp. 186-188.
• Dorset Historic Churches Trust, Dorset Churches. [Dorchester]: DHCT, 1988, p. 10.
• Hutchins, J. The history and antiquities of the County of Dorset, 3rd ed., edited by W. Shipp and J. W. Hodson, Westminster: J.B. Nichols and Sons, 1861-1873, Vol. 1, 1861, pp. 150-154.
• Jenkins, S. England's thousand best churches. London: Allen Lane, the Penguin Press, 1999, p. 147.
• Mee, A., ed., Dorset: Thomas Hardy's country. The King's England. London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1939, pp. 25-28.
• Newman, J. and Pevsner, N., The buildings of England: Dorset. Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1972, pp. 89-91.
• Pitfield, F.P., Dorset parish churches, A-D. Milborne Port: Dorset Publishing Company, 1981, pp. 58-64.
• Pitfield, F.P., The book of Bere Regis. Wincanton: Dorset Publishing Company, 1996 (1978).
• Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), An inventory of historical monuments in the County of Dorset, Vol. 2, South-East Dorset. London: HMSO, 1970, Pt. 1, pp. 13-18.
• Sackett, T. and Sackett, E., Francis Frith's Dorset Churches. Salisbury: Frith Book Co., 2000, pp. 67-68.

Church guide (as of 1997):

Bere Regis Church, Dorset, written and illustrated by F.P. Pitfield, 1983-94. Wincanton: Dorset Publishing Company, [ca. 1994]. ISBN 0-948699-00-0.
An 8 page illustrated history by local author and illustrator. Also available is a 12 page colour booklet entitled "Bere Regis Church, Dorset" (text by John England and Fred Pitfield) which commemorates the 500th anniversary of the oak roof, and which was published in 1986.

Bells:

6, 18-2-17 in Eb

See also: John England, Tower 500: History of the Tower of the Church of St. John the Baptist, Bere Regis (2000). Available from: John England, 10 South Mead, Bere Regis, Wareham, Dorset, BH20 7HY. Cost: £5.00 + postage.

St. John the Baptist, Bere Regis, Dorset (June 2009). View from the North East.
War Memorial (1919) in foreground.

Images of the interior

Bere Regis church contains some interesting tombs and carvings. The carved capitals by the main entrance are particularly fine. There is also a stunning fifteenth century roof, probably undertaken by Cardinal Morton, who had been born in the parish (Milborne Stileham). Some images of the roof can be found here

12th century carving of a man who has just accidentally dropped his car keys down a drain, Bere Regis, Dorset

12th century carving of dog baiting a tethered bear (?), Bere Regis, Dorset

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Maintained by Michael Day, Last updated: 7 August 2009.