Wimborne and Knowlton Church

Wimborne Minster first started in the 1100s

Southern England really is a beautiful place.  Especially around where my girlfriend lives.  It takes literally only about 10 minutes out of Christchurch before we are in pastoral countryside filled with horses, cows and sheep, forests, heaths, and historic ruins.  Not to mention the sweet hamlets with their unique qualities.

Qaint Wimborne with the Minster in the background

Yesterday we went to a lovely little historic town called Wimborne Minster.  Wimborne Minster (often referred to locally as Wimborne) is a market town in the East Dorset district of Dorset in South West England, and the name of the Church of England church in that town. The central town has a population of 6,418 and is situated at the confluence of the River Stour and River Allen, five miles north of Poole.

John Beaufort, Duke of Somerset, and his wife, Margaret, 1944. Parents of Lady Margaret Beaufort, mother of Henry VII. Note John is holding an armless hand, and it is not Margaret's - weird.

The architecture of Wimborne is regarded as one of the foremost collections of 15th, 16th and 17th century buildings in Dorset.

Medieval Murals from the 12th century

It was a really quaint town with lots of pedestrian streets, some great stores and second hand stores, historic pubs and of course a pretty impressive Minster which dates back to 1120.  It was after we had come home from Wimborne that Valerie and I started to question what the difference between a priory, a minster, an abbey etc. all was.  Christchurch has a priory, Wimborne a minster and Westminster an abbey. So this is the answer:

Abbey: a monastery governed by an abbot or abbess (a convent in that case) who has the same rank as a bishop, but who is the ‘bishop’ only of that particular abbey.

Quarter Jack on the outside of the Minster who does his thing every 15 minutes. I didn't get to see what his "thing" is ...

Priory: a monastery governed by a prior or prioress who does not have the rank of abbot/abbess. A priory is usually dependent upon an abbey.

Looking towards the west tower in the interior of the Minster

Cathedral: the church were the bishop’s official “chair” is. “Cathedra” means seat or chair. Sometimes this chair is called throne.

Some knight looking like dude chilling in the Minster

Minster: a church actually or originally connected with a monastery.

The beautiful ceiling of the centre tower albeit painted in early 1900

It is all somewhat confusing to me, but there it is.  All this rank and file in religion.  Sigh.  But they do build some impressive and beautiful buildings, usually on the best pieces of real estate.

Being artsy, Knowlton Church

Today we went to a small little village called Horton.  There close by is Knowlton Church.  The ruin of this Norman church rebuilt in the 1400s sits on a Neolithic Henge monument built approximately in 2500 BC.  A very pagan like place.  Now that is cool.

The church within the earthen works with the Juniper thank you tree to the left

See Knowlton Church was just a model - not it wasn't!

The location of the Church within the central henge at Knowlton is clear evidence of the “Christianisation” of older pagan sites. This “Christianisation” was widespread in the British Isles from the time the earliest Papal missionaries arrived. In an attempt to “convert” the local populace many sacred sites were “adapted” as well as centuries old customs.

Closer to the church

Knowlton Church is said to be one of the most haunted places in Dorset. There have been stories of a horse and rider galloping through the rings and a praying nun who kneels within the church. Stories have also been told of a ghostly church-bell which is said to sometimes ring.

Being artsy - close ups

Right within the fenced circle of this historical locale are two Juniper trees that almost form a cave.  In there people have been tying ribbons and string and leaving notes to loved ones who have either passed or to whom they wish well.  The strings generally are known as thank you strings.

Inside the thank you tree

I like this tradition actually.  Get a really cool branching something – doesn’t have to be alive – and everyday tie a string on it while you think of something to be thankful for.  In no time at all it will be this lovely colourful statement filled with all of the the things you are thanking in your life.  You can’t go wrong with something like that.

The Horton tower built by a Humphrey Stuart in the 1700s, likely as an observatory

Ahhh ... England in the springtime

Well tomorrow, off to Cardiff, Wales.  The weather was glorious today.  17C and sunny.  Looking forward to visiting Wales as I have never been there.  Stay tuned.

Yes that is me wearing a muzzle. Ya ya, no noise from the peanut gallery.