All that remains of the mediaeval church at Keyneston is the tower and the tenor bell. The tower is termed “decorated” and undoubtedly dates from the 14th century. By the 1 850s the church was in a very dilapidated condition and possessing no feature of architectural interest it was decided to rebuild. A Faculty, dated May 10th 1852 in the Salisbury Diocesan Records Office, reads as follows:- “The ancient church to be wholly demolished (save the tower) and rebuilt on the same site.” The cost was £1500, towards which Sir John James Smith, Baronet, gave £800 and the curate, the Rev’d Henry Austin (son of the incumbent) gave £300. They would in addition provide such portion of the remaining £400 as might not be voluntarily contributed. Plans were drawn up by T H Wyatt, the Diocesan Architect. The new church was built in the mock Perpendicular style of Flint and Ham stone to harmonise with the old tower and also to resemble to a great extent the old church. For some unknown reason the church is aligned SE/NW rather than the normal E/W. The interior of the present church contains little of interest apart from modem furnishings, the organ and a slightly unusual entrance to the pulpit. The most noticeable of the former being the new hassocks, beautifully worked by parishioners and friends to include many designs and colours, as well as depicting topics of local interest, note particularly the cushion in the Rector’s stall, and the Bishop’s Chair in the sanctuary. Also of interest is the green altar frontal, used during the season of Trinity, depicting the River Tarrant and its fish.

The font		The interior of the church

The one manual organ was made about the time of the church’s rebuilding, probably by Gray & Davison (the maker’s name plate has been removed). The organ was originally constructed as a barrel and finger organ, and is in a good state of preservation. The barrel, cradle and most of the barrel mechanism are no longer there but the barrel key flame with keys and linkage to the pallets remains. Also remaining are the barrel operating and selector knobs with the list of 10 tunes.

A manuscript in the Record Office, dated 1552, listing the number of bells in all Dorset churches states that “Tarrant Caynston has 3 Great Bells”. It is not known what happened to two of these but the remaining tenor bell hangs in the tower today. This bell, dated as near as can be judged, from the later half of the 14th century, is one of the oldest bells in the County. It bears good crowned capitals, an elegant cross and the word “MARIA” separated by four fleur-de-lys. In 1913 t’he then Rector, Rev. Philip Wingate, died and the following year three new bells were added to the mediaeval tenor, two in memory of the Rector and one given by parishioners and friends.

In 1977 a peal was rung on these four bells in 16 Minimus methods and this is the record number of methods yet rung to a peal on four bells anywhere in the world. A new treble bell, cast in 1853, was brought from the redundant church of Christchurch, Savernake, Wilts., and added to make a peal of five bells in 1978.

The carved slate in the ringing room recording the gift of the extra bells in 1914 is the work of the distinguished English sculptor and engraver Eric Gill (1882-1940). One of his well known sculptures, ‘Prospero and Arid”, is on Broadcasting House, and he was also responsible for the design of the King George VI stamps. A brass plate on the south wall of the chancel in memory of the Wingates is also his work as is the cross, or stepped Calvary, by the path and not far from the vestry door, marking the grave of Rev. Philip Wingate. Notice the curious, but typical, conjoining of the letters N and T at the end of “Tarrant” and the different sized letters in “Keynston”.

In the graveyard under the south wall of the tower is a handsome altar style tomb of the Bastard family. It was these famous 18th century architects who were responsible for many of the fine Georgian houses in the neighbourhood and for the Parish Church, Corn Exchange and other buildings in Blandford after the Great Fire of 1731.

The acer tree, near the gateway into the churchyard, was planted by the pupils of the village Church School to mark the closure of the school in the summer of 1982.

(Revised 1996)
Mrs Judith Robertson — Churchwarden 2000-2003.