The church dedicated to St May was built in the 12th century and has massive Norman arches that divide the aisles from the nave and a bell tower that dates from the 15th century. The west tower was built by Sir Thomas Trenchard at the beginning of the 16th century and engraved at various places is the letter 'T' with an inverted 'T' entwined with it.

Inside can be found monuments to the Devenish and Trenchard families and the river flows beneath the floor of the church.

The Trenchards lived at Wolfeton House, which is south of the church, and built in 1505 by Sir Thomas himself. The live here from 1480 until the end of the 18th century and the house has many ghostly tales related to it. The house has a gatehouse that has rounded towers and large mullioned windows.

The Country Lunatic Asylum was also in the parish and the Dorset Country school as well as a National School was built in 1874.

Charminster has had a friendly rivalry with Dorchester for many years but what sets Charminster above the other town is that here can be see a Roman Villa with a mosaic pavement.