Wimborne St Giles

Extracted from Hutchins History of Dorset, Volume III, 1868

by Dorinda Miles

THE CHURCH

..is situated on the north side of the village, near the seat of Lord Shaftesbury, whose family burial place it is. It is dedicated to St Giles, and consists of a chancel and body. The tower is adorned at top with balustrades, and urns on the four corners with vanes of polished steel upon them: and contains six bells, which were cast out of the four belonging to this church, and three to that of Wimborne All Saints, and placed here when the church and tower were rebuilt, 1732, soon after Wimborne All Saints was annexed.

It has been lately built by Sir Anthony Ashley. It was repaired and altered in 1785 by the fifth Earl of Shaftesbury, and again in 1852. Elizabeth Strangeways, by will dated 20 Feb 1514, proved 22 May, 1515, ordered her body to be buried in this church. Thomas Strangeways and Henry Ashley, her husbands, William and Edward Strangeways and Henry Ashley, her sons, are mentioned in her will.

On the Gallery: "This church was rebuilt at the expence of the fourth Earl of Shaftesbury 1732; repaired and altered by the fifth Earl of Shaftesbury 1785." Further altered and repaired 1852.

A granite basin and pedestal were substituted for the old font in 1782, but in 1852 the latter was again brought to light and replaced on a new base.  

MONUMENTAL INSCRIPTIONS

On the north wall of the nave…

In Memory of

ANTHONY ASHLEY

third Earl of Shaftesbury,

a celebrated author,

He was born the 26^th Feb 1670

and died the 14^th Feb 1712.

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On the south side of the chancel is an elegant mural monument of beautiful marble…

This monument is erected by MARY Countess of SHAFTESBURY, in testimony of her most tender and indissoluble regard to the much loved memory of her affectionate husband ANTHONY ASHLEY COOPER fourth Earl of Shaftesbury; who from a consistency of virtuous conduct in public and private had as many friends, and as few enemies, as ever fell to the lot of man. Having lived in honour, he died in peace; the result of a life well spent, and of hope grounded on the Redeeming Mercy of that Adorable All Perfect Being, to whom he looked up with incessant gratitude, of whose glory he was zealous, to whose creatures he was kind, whose will was his study, and whose services his delight. Having received and diffused happiness, he departed this life, amidst the prayers of the rich and poor, May 27, 1771, aged 61. His works follow him.

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Over the porch door is a mural monument of Carrara marble…

This monument was erected by Barbara, Countess Dowager of Shaftesbury, to the memory of her departed husband ANTHONY ASHLEY COOPER, 5^th Earl of Shaftesbury. He was born on the 17^th of September 1761. Died on the 12^th of May 1811.

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On the same wall eastward a slab of Caen stone…

CROPLEY, Earl of Shaftesbury, born December 21, 1768, died June 2, 1851. His own recorded wishes demanded the simplicity of this memorial.

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Over the chancel door a narrow slab of similar material….

1852. ANTHONY FRANCIS ASHLEY-COOPER, died at school, 31^st May 1849, aged 16 years. His remains lie interred in Harrow churchyard, but those who have lost him desire never to attend this house of God without seeing a memorial of one, who though so young, died in the full faith and joy of his Lord.

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ln the chancel also is a circular slab…

ANTHONY-MAURICE-WILLIAM ASHLEY COOPER, after many years of patient suffering, entered into his rest on the 19^th of August 855, and was buried where he died at Lausanne.

To the memory of GRACE-HARRIET, the only daughter of the Rev ROBERT MOORE and SOPHIA-ELIZABETH his wife, who died March 2, 1847, aged 17 years.

Also of ROBERT, their eldest son, captain in her Majesty's 5^th Fusiliers, who died Dec 15, 1860, aged 25. Both deeply lamented. Their remains lie in All Hallows churchyard.

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On a brass plate on the north wall…

In memory of ROBERT MOORE, M.S. Prebendary of Salisbury, and for nearly 42 years Rector of this parish, who died January 26, 1865, in the 81^st year of his age.

Also of SOPHIA-ELIZABETH his wife, who died May 30, 1867, in the 66^th year of her age.

In memory of a beloved child MARY-CHARLOTTE ASHLEY-COOPER, one tried and purified in the furnace of affliction. She was born July 25, 1842, and died at Torquay, Sept 3, 1860.

This tablet is erected by the Lady ELIZABETH TALBOT to the memory of her beloved husband the Very Rev CHARLES TALBOT, B.D. Dean of Salisbury and 29 years rector of this parish. Second son of the Hon and Rev GEORGE TALBOT, D.D.  and grandson of CHARLES LORD TALBOT, Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain. He expired after a few days illness, to the inexpressible grief and irreparable loss of his widow and his eleven surviving children, on 27^th February 1823, aged 53. Possessed of a sound and clear understanding, he united the deepest sense of Religion with the strictest rectitude of principle which  influenced every action of his life. In the various characters of husband, father, and parish priest, he was truly exemplary; kind and affectionate in the intercourse with his family, always preferring their advantage and enjoyments to his own; and was ever ready to promote the temporal and spiritual interests of his parishioners. Beloved and revered in his lifetime, he died universally and deeply lamented. His remains are interred in the burial ground pf All Hallows, belonging to this parish, near four of his children, SOMERSET-CHARLES, died 24^th May, 1810; ARTHUR-EMILIUS, died 7^th June, 1815; JOHN-SOMERSET, died 11^th June 1818; SOPHIA-ISABELLA, died 26^th April 1819; ELIZABETH, born 24 Nov 1800, died 20 April 1852.

In the vault at All Hallows are interred the remains of the Right Hon Lady ELIZABETH TALBOT, eldest daughter of  HENRY 5^th Earl of Beaufort, and relict of the Very Rev CHARLES TALBOT, Dean of Sarum, Rector of this parish, born 11 Feb 1773, died 5^th May 1836. In her was found a superior intellect, an extraordinary firmness of mind, and unvarying cheerfulness of disposition, an inflexibility of principle springing from a firm and sound religion; charitable to the poor, affable to her inferiors, a kind relation, an exemplary wife, an affectionate and admirable mother, the children's welfare, not temporal only but eternal, being uppermost in her thoughts, ever instilling those religious truths which formed the rule of her own life, guiding them, as she has walked, in the fear of God.

            Her ten surviving children erect this tablet to her memory, an offering of gratitude and love, a record of their grief, and deep sense of their loss.

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In the churchyard a tomb to

JOHN COLES, died Nov 19, 1795, aged 75.

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Wimborne St Giles

Extracted from Hutchins History of Dorset, Volume III, 1868

RECTORS OF WIMBORNE ST GILES

Wimborne St Giles

Extracted from Hutchins History of Dorset, Volume III, 1868

The register begins 1594; but contains nothing remarkable, except what belongs to the Ashley and Cooper families, besides that Sir John Cropley was buried in the family vault, and Sir William Hanham was married to a niece of the first Earl of Shaftesbury here.

BAPTISM

ANTHONIE ASHLEY Couper, the son and heire of John Couper, esquire, was baptized the third day of August.

CHARITABLE BENEFACTION to this Parish, as returned to Parliament, 1786.

            Sir Anthony Ashley gave by deed, in 1624, (according to Hutchins), for the relief of eleven poor persons, land in Gussage All Saints; the annual produce of which is 50l. It is vested in the Right Honourable Anthony Ashley Cooper, Earl of Shaftesbury.

                                                                                    GILES TEMPLEMAN, rector of St Giles.

                                                                                                                ROBERT BUDDEN, churchwarden.

Sworn before us,                   ANTH. CHAPMAN

                8 Sept 1786.       ROE KING

By the return of Parliament in 1801, the parish of Wimborne St Giles contained 1 uninhabited house, and 68 inhabited houses, occupied by as many families; consisting of 182 males and 168 females, total 350; of whom 47 were chiefly employed in agriculture, and 23 in trade, manufactures or handicraft.

By the return of Parliament in 1851 there were here 96 houses and 495 souls, and by that of 1861, 93 houses and 436 inhabitants.