East & West Orchard

Church of  St  Thomas, East Orchard
Photographs Lynda Mudle-Small © March 2003

East Orchard, a small parish approximately 4 miles south-west of Shaftesbury and about the same distance north-east of Sturminster Newton, was originally under the control of the Abbey of Shaftesbury. Following the dissolution of the monasteries in 1539, it passed with all the land around it into the hands of the Arundell family. The hamlet of East Orchard is documented in 1650 as being one of the five chapels belonging to the mother church of Iwerne Minster, a large parish some 4 miles away to the south east. The present church of St Thomas in East Orchard was built at the end of the 18th century and the church registers date from 1785. In 1866 the Ecclesiastical Commissioners for England changed its status to a Vicarage. By 1869 the land had passed into the estates of Sir Richard Glyn. At one time there were also two Methodist Chapels.

The introduction of civil registration in 1837 placed East Orchard in Shaftesbury Registration District and Fontmell Magna District, initially grouped with Sutton Waldron. By 1861, East Orchard, West Orchard and Margaret Marsh had been grouped into one Enumerator’s District and in 1937 the civil parish of East Orchard, West Orchard and Margaret Marsh was transferred to Sturminster Newton Registration District.

West Orchard, the adjoining parish separated from East Orchard by a stream flowing to the south west, also belonged to the Abbey of Shaftesbury. It is approximately 3 ½ miles north-east of Sturminster Newton and just over 5 miles south-west of Shaftesbury. Like East Orchard, it too passed into the hands of the Arundell family after 1539. It is documented in 1650 as being the chapel of ease to the mother church of the parish of Fontmell, some 4 miles away to the north-east. West Orchard registers date from 1653. In 1869 it is recorded as being the property of H G Sturt, Esa. The existing church of St Luke’s was largely rebuilt, with the exception of the chancel, in 1878. The Ecclesiastical Commissioners for England transferred West Orchard to the parish of East Orchard in 1952.

With civil registration, West Orchard also became part of Shaftesbury Registration District and Fontmell Magna District and from 1861 onwards was grouped into an Enumerator’s District with East Orchard and Margaret Marsh. It was transferred to Sturrminster Newton Registration District in 1937.

West Orchard Church

The Online Parish Clerk (OPC) for East & West Orchard is Sue Thornton-Grimes