About Us

Christ's Church, Melplash was built between 1845 and 1846. Its construction was funded by James Bandinell in memory of his father, who had been vicar of Netherbury, some 3 miles from Melplash. James Bandinell was at one time secretary to William Wilberforce. The church was designed and built by Benjamin Ferrey, a pupil of Augustus Pugin and a friend of his son Augustus WN Pugin, and is a Neo-Norman structure, based on a church in Shoreham, in Sussex. (The Neo-Norman style was apparently very popular in the 1840s).

The large size of the church anticipated an increase in population in the village to support the flax industry for rope making in Bridport. Unfortunately, this proved to be a false expectation, as the flax trade declined in the 1850s, resulting in a 10% reduction of the population in the area.

The occasion of the consecration of the church, on October 20th 1846, was followed by great celebrations, and a ploughing match which subsequently became an annual event. The Melplash Show, now held on a permanent site in nearby West Bay, Bridport, on the last Thursday before the August Bank Holiday every year, is a very successful one day agricultural show.

Melplash is a very small village in West Dorset, some 3 miles from Bridport and 2 miles from Beaminster. Our Church of England church is part of the Beaminster Team Ministry, whose Rector is the Reverend Ken Masters. We have no resident parish priest in the village, but are well served by Ken and his team of licensed lay ministers and retired priests. The licensed lay minister with special responsibility for Melplash is Mr Richard Satchell, who regularly conducts services at Melplash.

The Rector, Rev Ken Masters, in his office in the Rectory in Beaminster

There is a service every Sunday at Melplash church. Times and preachers can be found on the "Church Activities" section of the website.

Our church is probably unique, in that it has a badminton court in its nave. In 1975, a screen was built to separate the nave from the rest of the church. The altar was placed in the north transept, and the south transept effectively became the nave. The apse became the baptistry. The badminton court is used regularly by several groups of enthusiasts every week, and provides a small income to help maintain the church. (The screen can be opened up to accommodate larger congregations for weddings and funerals).

The village boasts a pub (The Half Moon Inn), a garage (Corner Garage), and an active Village Hall.