What is Church Trails

Church Recorders are volunteers who make records of the contents of our national churches, thereby promoting the recognition and preservation of the rich artistic heritage to be found in places of worship of all religions. The items are described in detail and their history researched. All the material is then compiled into a book illustrated with photographs and drawings. This is presented to the church and copies are sent to national institutions.

Over past years volunteers from  The Arts Society Dorset County have completed Records of four churches : St Peter's Winterborne Came, St Andrew's West Stafford, St Peter's Portesham, St Mary the Virgin Charminster.

Our fifth Record: for St Mary the Virgin Church at Puddletown was presented to the Church Wardens and the Vicar, Rev Sarah Hillman at the end of the morning service in August 2014, witnessed by most of the Church Recording Team. It took eight years to complete, partly because this fascinating church contains such a wealth of treasures. During this time the Athelhampton Chapel was restored. It contains more medieval effigies than any parish church in the south west of England.

2022 - Due to Covid we had to stop our recording at this fascinating Church at Minterne and our group disbanded.  The Church Recording group at the Art Society Sherborne took over where we left off and we are very grateful to them.  We handed over all our research and completed records for them to continue and we will be sharing the costs of printing the final record.