Church of St Candida and Holy Cross

St Candida and Holy Cross
A church tower with churchyard and headstones in the foreground
St Candida and Holy Cross from the west
Map of the English county of Dorset
Map of the English county of Dorset
St Candida and Holy Cross
50°45′19″N 2°51′23″W / 50.7554°N 2.8565°W / 50.7554; -2.8565
OS grid referenceSY3968195442
LocationWhitchurch Canonicorum, Dorset
CountryEngland
DenominationAnglican
Websitecathedralofthevale.co.uk
History
StatusParish church
Founder(s)Alfred the Great
Relics heldSt Wite (Latin: St Candida)
Architecture
Functional statusActive
Heritage designationGrade I
Designated5 September 1960[1]
StyleEarly English, Perpendicular
Specifications
Tower height75 feet (23 m)
MaterialsStone, slate roof
BellsEight
Tenor bell weight16 long cwt 3 qr 26 lb (1,902 lb or 863 kg)[2]
Administration
ProvinceCanterbury
DioceseSalisbury
ArchdeaconrySherborne
DeaneryLyme Bay
ParishWhitchurch Canonicorum
Clergy
RectorRevd Christopher Martin[3]
Assistant priest(s)Revd Virginia Luckett[3]
Laity
Churchwarden(s)Hilary Joyce[3]

The Church of St Candida and Holy Cross is an Anglican church in Whitchurch Canonicorum, Dorset, England. A Saxon church stood on the site but nothing remains of that structure. The earliest parts of the church date from the 12th century when it was rebuilt by Benedictine monks. Further major rebuilding work took place in the 13th century and in the 14th century the church's prominent tower was constructed. The church features some Norman architectural features but is predominantly Early English and Perpendicular. George Somers, founder of the colony of Bermuda, is buried under the vestry and the assassinated Bulgarian dissident Georgi Markov is interred in the churchyard. It is an active Church of England parish church in the deanery of Lyme Bay, the archdeaconry of Sherborne, and the diocese of Salisbury. It is one of only two parish churches in the country to have a shrine that contains the relics of their patron saint. The relics belong to St. Candida (the Latin form of Saint Wite) to whom the church is dedicated. The church been designated by English Heritage as a Grade I listed building.

  1. ^ Historic England (2012). "Whitchurch Canonicorum Church (1227942)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 7 September 2012.
  2. ^ "Whitchurch Canonicorum". Dove's Guide for Church Bell Ringers. 2012. Retrieved 6 September 2012.
  3. ^ a b c "Find a parish". Diocese of Salisbury. 2012. Retrieved 7 September 2012.