St John's Church, Poxwell

St John's was built in 1867–68 as the replacement of an earlier church which was described in the Post Office Directory as being a "small ancient fabric" with a nave and chancel but no tower.{{Cite web|url=https://specialcollections.le.ac.uk/digital/collection/p16445coll4/id/263981|title=Post Office Directory of Dorsetshire, 1859 - Page 80|website=specialcollections.le.ac.uk|access-date=10 August 2020}} It was demolished in 1866,{{cite news |title=Poxwell - Accident|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001139/18660804/049/0003 |newspaper=The Bridport News |date=4 August 1866 |access-date=10 August 2020|via = British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription }} prior to the construction of the new church approximately 70 yards eastwards.{{Cite web|url=https://specialcollections.le.ac.uk/digital/collection/p16445coll4/id/112105|title=Kelly's Directory of Dorset, 1915 - Page 184|website=specialcollections.le.ac.uk|access-date=10 August 2020}}

The new church, also dedicated to St John the Evangelist, was built at the sole expense of John Trenchard Trenchard, the patron of the living and owner of the Poxwell and Ringstead estates.{{cite news |title=Pokeswell |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001139/18680425/061/0003 |newspaper=The Bridport News |date=25 April 1868 |access-date=10 August 2020|via = British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription }} It was designed by Mr. George Evans of Wimborne Minster and built by Mr. R. Reynolds of Wimborne Minster. The carving work was carried out by Mr. Grassby of Dorchester.{{cite news |title=Consecration of Pokeswell new church|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000406/18680501/059/0007 |newspaper=The Western Gazette |date=1 May 1868 |access-date=10 August 2020|via = British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription }}

St John's was consecrated on 22 April 1868 by the Bishop of Sodor and Man, the Right Rev. Horatio Powys, on behalf of the Bishop of Salisbury (the Right Rev. Walter Kerr Hamilton), who was unable to consecrate the church due to illness.

The church was demolished in 1969,{{Cite web|url=http://www.dorset-churches.org.uk/poxwell.html|title=Poxwell (St. John the Evangelist)|first=Michael|last=Day|date=23 October 2000|website=dorset-churches.org.uk|access-date=10 August 2020}} following the union of the parishes of Osmington and Poxwell.{{cite web|url=https://assets.parliament.uk/Journals/HCJ_volume_224.pdf|title=Journals of the House of Commons - 30th October 1968 to 22nd October 1969|website=assets.parliament.uk|access-date=10 August 2020}} A survey of the spire concluded it was unsafe and required repairs at an estimated cost of £5,000, which was beyond the financial means of the village's 50 inhabitants. It was decided to demolish the church, with work beginning on 11 August 1969. Despite the survey's claims, the spire was much stronger than expected and the first attempt to pull it down failed. The first set of thick steel hawsers which were wrapped around the spire snapped under the strain when they were pulled by a mechanical digger. The second attempt to fell the spire was successful after thicker hawsers were attached. The contractors received payment for their demolition work by salvaging material from the building.{{cite news |title='Unsafe' spire is toppled |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/876075525/ |newspaper=Bristol Evening Post |date=12 August 1969 |page=9 |access-date=3 June 2023 |via = Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription }} The churchyard remains near the site of the church.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QZzyAAAAMAAJ&q=poxwell+churchyard|title=The Oxford Literary Guide to Britain and Ireland|first1=Dorothy|last1=Eagle|first2=Hilary|last2=Carnell|date=10 August 1985|publisher=Crescent Books|isbn=9780517482926|via=Google Books|access-date=10 August 2020}}

St John's was made up of a nave, chancel with south vestry, north and south transepts, north porch, and circular west tower with spire, the latter reaching a height of 90 feet. The lower part of the tower was designed to form a small baptistery. The church's font was made of Bath stone, with the column being supported by six detached shafts of Devonshire marble.

Some of the church's fittings were transferred from the older church, including the single bell, which dated to the 15th century and was cast at Wokingham.{{Cite web|url=https://www.british-history.ac.uk/rchme/dorset/vol2/pp259-263|title=Poxwell | British History Online|website=british-history.ac.uk|access-date=10 August 2020}} With the church's demolition, the bell was moved to St Martin's Church at Broadmayne.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dorsetlife.co.uk/2010/02/in-the-footsteps-of-treves-poxwell-and-osmington/|title=In the footsteps of Treves — Poxwell and Osmington|publisher=Dorset Life - The Dorset Magazine|access-date=10 August 2020}} Fittings taken from the earlier church included a marble tablet to Joseph Kingstone Warne, 1823, and his wife Leah, 1838, another to Roger Warne, 1831, and Martha, daughter of Joseph Kingstone and Leah Warne, 1834, another to Mary Anne, daughter of Joseph Kingstone and Leah Warne, 1846, and a fourth to the former rector George Pickard, 1840, and his wife, 1828.

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Category:Former churches in Dorset

Category:Church of England church buildings in Dorset

Category:Demolished churches in England

Category:Churches completed in 1868

Category:Buildings and structures demolished in 1969