Church of St Martin, Lillington, Dorset

S. MARTIN, LILLINGFON, DORSET - Mr. Withers, of Sherborne, has made a very pleasing restoration of this church, which in its unrestored state was a most unpromising subject. It is a very tiny building, consisting of a nave, 30 feet long and 13 feet broad; a chancel, 19 feet long; a south chapel, north porch, and west tower. The walls were nearly ruinous, the detail miserable, and the interior filled with pews and a gallery, and a stove. However, it preserved a roodscreen; and both pulpit and reading-pew were in the chancel, within the screen. By an improved arrangement of seats, Mr. Withers accommodates 125 without the gallery, whereas only 100 were seated before. The chancel has longitudinal benches, which however ought only to be single, and a sort of reading-stall is made prominent on the south side. This is most unnecessary in so small a chancel; no distinction in the stalls was either needed or indeed allowable. The pulpit is now in the nave; but — we cannot express our surprise and regret — the screen has vanished in the plan now before us. We should much like to have this explained, but we are sure we may acquit the architect of any blame on this score. Externally the church is almost rebuilt, except the tower (which is in a fair state); good unfoliated two-light windows inserted in the sides, and a three-light one in the east end; buttresses, strings, crests, and gable- crosses added, and a vestry built between the south chapel and the chancel. All this detail is very effective and good; but we have some doubts whether it is not too much for the scale of the building. In particular we object to the uncalled-for destruction of the hagioscope between the nave and the south chapel, and the removal of all traces of the (blocked) north door, to make way for an unnecessary new window. The screen, parting off the south chapel, is perhaps somewhat heavy. We hope to see some works of this architect, where he may not be fettered by his employers in the matter of ritual arrangements. [Ecclesiologist February 1849 page266-267]

Lillington is a parish 3 miles south of Sherborne with the Parish Church of St. Martin standing at the north end of the parish. The walls are of local rubble with dressings of the same material; the roofs are covered with stone slates. The Nave was built late in the 13th century. The West Tower was added in the 15th century and the Chancel was rebuilt perhaps in the same period. The North Porch was added or rebuilt in the 17th century and the South Chapel is perhaps an 18th-century addition. The church was extensively restored by R J Withers in 1848, when the gallery under the tower was altered.

Reference    An Inventory of the Historical Monuments in Dorset, Volume 1: West 1952
Reference    Ecclesiologist February 1849 page 266-267