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February 2021 February 2021
AFFPUDDLE AND TURNERSPUDDLE PARISH its bell windows, rises past a course of many gargoyles to battlements and
COUNCIL pinnacles large and – on the stair turret – quaintly small. The lead-roofed nave, its
two-light clerestory windows peeking over the aisle roofs, links with a steeply
sloping stone-roofed chancel, a 15th century reworking (as the Perpendicular
windows show) of a 13th century enlargement of an original chancel built on a
shorter nave in about 1050.
There is a fairly standard north aisle and a much higher and more interesting south
aisle, with brick intrusions among the pale ashlar, dark heathstone and flint of its
walls. This aisle’s east window and another, smaller one on the south side have fine
flowing quatrefoil tracery. In the right light you can see from outside suggestions of
the stained glass outlines. Entry to the church is by the massive brick, flint and
stone-faced south porch. On its walls hang metal flails used, at the end of long
poles, to pull burning or threatened thatch off roofs. Bere Regis went up in a blaze
in 1788, and not much remained standing. The church did. So, in a town shorn of
ancient building, the church alone retains the physical witness of a long and rich
history.
Inside, the first impact comes from light, and from the bare and comforting
strength of the two arcades flanking the nave – an all but monochrome vista of
massive pale shapes, grey shaded stone, white walls, tan of pews and barely
coloured glass of the north aisle windows opposite. Walking a few paces towards
the nave confounds the pallor with a rich scatter of pigmentation. To the right is
the vivid stained glass of the south aisle: the martial array of Turberville armorial
shields, and the busy scene within the mullions and shapely tracery of the aisle’s
east window. This depicts a glum heaven: seated centrally a solemn Saviour; to his
left and right a band of all-male cloaked and bearded harpists, none too
cheerful; altogether the kind of oppressively pious, monotonously serene heaven
that made Shaw’s Don Juan (and others) plump for eternity in hell. But the
execution is well done, not least the winged angels occupying the window’s
upper tracery, one per quatrefoil light.
Two reports this month as unfortunately the first one was received after the January
magazine had gone to print. We move under the arcade to the nave.
The pier’s capitals are enlivened by comical

heads: imps, monsters, sufferers from the
The Parish Council meeting on 9th December was once again held remotely in torments of headache and toothache. To
order to comply with Government social distancing guidance. Until restrictions the left, or west, through the panelled tower
around movement and public gatherings are lifted, the Parish Council will be arch, a fine Norman font carved with a
holding all meetings remotely. close-knit pattern of circled stars and
interlocking arches stands in splendid

isolation; to the right, or east, an
Full Fibre Broadband unremarkable chancel. For the church’s
Representatives from Dorset Council joined the meeting to make a presentation priceless and most astonishing feature we
to Councillors and members of the public regarding a voucher scheme which need to look up, to the five glorious 15th
would help residents and businesses to have full fibre broadband installed. In this century beams of the nave roof and their
case the cables would go directly to the property rather than to a nearby cabinet rich mustering of multifarious and brightly
painted wood-carvings.

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