St Michaels Church, West Compton

St Michaels is a privately owned Grade II listed church in the parish of Maiden Newton and the Valleys and is available for wedding blessings, renewal of wedding vows, christenings and other services. 

Tucked away in the centre of West Compton, it's accessed via a secluded footpath creating the illusion that you are going back in time as you ascend.

This pretty Dorset church was rebuilt around the mid 1800's in the typical Gothic style that was popular at that time.  It replaced an earlier 13 century wooden church which had been destroyed by fire.  The charming church has a simple elegant interior, with stone decoration delicately highlighted in soft colours to match the stained glass windows.  The stone font was one of the items saved from the earlier building and dates from the 13th century.  The fine old pulpit and alter rail date from the 1800's and the bell which can be rung before a service is dated 1665.

The main body of the church can seat 100 guests and the vestry can seat a further 20.  If the vestry is not required, it can be seperated from the rest of the church by closing the large wooden folding doors and creating a more intirmate atmosphere.

The church is lit by original oil lamps now converted to electricity, but candles can also be used for that special ambience.  It is up to you how you wish to decorate the church, you may use flowers, rose petals, ribbon, etc anything that is suitable for the type of service you wish to hold, but please bear in mind that the building is listed.

There is an electric organ in the church and we can assist you with booking a local organists.

Wedding Blessings

Full wedding services are limited to residents of, or those that have a strong connection with West Compton, but a wedding blessing is available to everyone. 

The blessing would be taken by our local vicar Rev Graham Perryman who is a member of the Melbury Team, or a vicar of your choice.  The blessing service can be made to look like a full wedding service with hymns, exchanging of rings, readings and the bride and groom taking centre stage.  It is up to you to design your service, choose the readings, hymns and what you wish to say to each other, the vicar will be more than happy to assist and guide you with this. 

Prior to a wedding blessing you will have to both give notice in person to the superintendant registrar at your local register office, this can be done up to a year in advance of your intended marriage date.  Your notice is publicly displayed for 15 days, after which the authority of your marriage or civil partnership can be granted.  A civil marriage ceremony can take place at any register office in England or Wales.  The closests register offices to West Compton are Bridport and Dorchester and if you wish to get married at the one of our local offices, you will need to contact them to ensure that officials will be available on the day you wish to marry.  To make your marriage legal you both make a declaration and sign the register and you will need two people to accompany you to act as witnesses.  More information can be found on the Dorset County Councils website, Dorset For You.      

St Michaels Church Refurbishment

Following on from a hugely sucessful Vintage Country Fayre held in July to raise money to refurbish the church, work started in earnest in August 2011.  The main areas of damaged external stonework have been repaired and the end window has had new stone carved and is in the process of being put back together. 

The refurbishment will be ongoing for the foreseeable future and various events are planed to continue to raise money for the project.  A list of these events can be found on the News and Events page.