| Hilfield | |
|---|---|
 St Nicholas Church, Hilfield | |
  Hilfield Location within Dorset | |
| Population | 50 [1] |
| OS grid reference | ST634050 |
| Unitary authority | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Police | Dorset |
| Fire | Dorset and Wiltshire |
| Ambulance | South Western |
Hilfield is a small, scattered village and civil parish in west Dorset, England, situated under the scarp face of the Dorset Downs 7 miles (11 km) south of Sherborne. Dorset County Council's 2013 estimate of the parish population is 50.[1]
Hilfield parish church, dedicated to St Nicholas, has late 13th- or early 14th-century origins, though the present building dates from the 15th century and was substantially altered in 1848.[2] It has wooden parquet flooring, notable carved bench ends—possibly moved from Cerne Abbey[3] and thought to be Flemish but of unknown age—and the pulpit and seating have 16th-century panelling. It is one of the smallest English parish churches.[4]
Hilfield Friary is a faith-based community centred on Franciscan brothers of the Anglican Society of St Francis. The Hilfield community is made up of Franciscan Brothers and others who join them; the community encourages environmental sustainability within the Franciscan ethos of peace, faith and justice.[5]
- ^ a b "Parish Population Data". Dorset County Council. 20 January 2015. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
- ^ "Church of St Nicholas, Hilfield". britishlistedbuildings.co.uk. Retrieved 13 February 2014.
- ^ West Dorset, Holiday and Tourist Guide. West Dorset District Council. c. 1983. p. 10.
- ^ Roland Gant (1980). Dorset Villages. Robert Hale Ltd. pp. 71–2. ISBN 0 7091 8135 3.
- ^ "The Hilfield Project". BBC. 25 March 2009. Retrieved 13 February 2014.