The Church of St. John the Evangelist,Tolpuddle   (Lead author: Jo Thomas)

The church of St. John the Evangelist (SY79071 94499) was built in the 12th century, and enlarged in the 13th and 14th centuries. In Anglo-Saxon times the parish was owned by the Abbey at Abbotsbury, who also owned Portesham quarry. Therefore the use of Purbeck limestone, particularly the Cypris Freestone, quarried at Portesham, is to be expected.

St. John’s Church from the south, showing the south aisle and the porch. Photo: JT

The east wall of the chancel is entirely Cypris Freestone, but the remainder of the chancel is difficult to name precisely, though it is all Purbeck limestone. The tower is coursed flint, except for its upper stage, which appears, from ground level, to be Purbeck limestone, with buttresses of Purbeck Burr and other limestone. The west wall of the north aisle is banded flint and Purbeck limestone, the north wall flint with Cypris Freestone quoins and Bath Stone windows. There are scattered blocks of heathstone in the tower, the walls, and in the porch.

The east wall of the chancel at St. John’s is entirely Cypris Freestone, from the Portesham quarries. Photo: JT

The 13th century lower part of the tower at St. John’s is coursed flint, with a buttress of Purbeck Burr. Photo: JT

The walls of the north transept and north aisle of St. John’s church are a mixture of flint, Purbeck limestone and the occasional Heathstone block, with quoins of Cypris Freestone and windows of Bath Stone. Photo: JT