Wimborne Minster

Wimborne Minster stands in the heart of Wimborne, Dorset, as the parish church and a former monastery and Benedictine nunnery. Its origins go back over 1300 years, making it one of the oldest Christian sites in England. The minster is dedicated to Saint Cuthburga, who founded the abbey of nuns around the year 705. Saint Walpurga and Saint Leoba were educated in this place before leaving for missionary work. King Æthelred of Wessex is buried here, adding to its historical significance. The minster is worth the journey for its rare chained library, one of only a few surviving in the world. Founded in 1686 with a donation by the Revd William Stone, it holds theological works in Latin, Greek and Hebrew. Roger Gillingham later enlarged the collection with nearly ninety books on religious and secular subjects. The minster’s architecture reflects centuries of building, from Norman to Gothic styles, with later Victorian restorations. A working astronomical clock and a fragment of medieval Cosmatesque mosaic add to its interest. The central tower reaches 29 metres, and the western tower stands at 26 metres. A visitor finds a large cruciform church with aisled nave, transepts and two towers. The crossing holds a central tower, and the chancel contains a crypt beneath. The chained library occupies the former treasury, where books are still secured by chains. The nave roof has twenty-four carved wooden bosses, mostly with foliate decoration. The minster remains a place of worship and a site of historical importance for the local community and visitors.