| Minterne Magna |
| Lying about two miles north of Cerne
Abbas is the village of Minterne Magna with its church that is dedicated
to St Andrew which is late Mediaeval though the north porch is 17th
century. The tower was restored in 1894 and three years later oak
seats were installed. The village was Great Hintock in Hardys novels and great hill surround it, including High Stoy and Dogbury Hills and from the top of the former the Bristol Channel can be seen on a clear day. Inside can be found many monuments to the Digby, Napier, and Churchill families and one to Nathaniel Napier who constructed the almshouses in Dorchester. Also here is a memorial to Sir Henry Digby who was in command of HMS Africa at Trafalgar and a window in memorial to the Hon. Theresa Digby. Admiral Sir Henry received a commendation from Lord Nelson and died in 1842. Charles Churchill was a page to King Christian of Denmark when he was 13 years old and at the age of 16 he became a Gentleman of the Bedchamber to Prince George and fought alongside his brother the Duke of Marlborough at the battle fo Blenheim and in 1714 he died aged 56. Minterne House has been at times the seat of other familes mentioned and is at the middle fo the village with a large park and gardens around it.
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