All Saints' Church, Mapperton

All Saints’ Church stands in Mapperton, a small village in Dorset. Built mainly of Ham stone, the church has a nave, chancel, south vestry, west tower and south porch. Its oldest parts date from the 12th century, with the chancel still showing that early work. The west tower was added in the 15th century and later altered around 1770. In 1704 Richard Brodrepp rebuilt the nave, and the church was restored in 1846. The building carries the marks of several centuries. The nave windows are two-light and plain, while the stained glass in many windows comes from the 16th and 17th centuries. A 1704 inscription on the south doorway records Brodrepp’s work, and the chancel arch of the same date is two-centred and chamfered. Inside, a 12th-century font survives, and the communion rails date from about 1704. A monument in the chancel to Richard Brodrepp and his children was carved by Peter Scheemakers in 1737. Visitors enter through the south porch and walk into a quiet nave. The chancel arch frames the altar area, and the older glass catches the light. The tower’s single bell hangs in a small bell-cot above the west end. Outside, the church sits beside Mapperton House, where the gardens are open to the public. Services are held in summer, and weddings can be arranged, making the church a living part of the estate.