Benson: St Helen

Name:
Benson: St Helen
Record Type:
Church
Church code:
627101
Diocese:
Oxford
Archdeaconry:
Dorchester
Parish:
Benson

Statutory Designation Information

Listed Building?
This is a Grade II* Listed Building
View more information about this Listed Building on the National Heritage List for England web site
Scheduled Monument?
There is no Scheduled Monument within the curtilage or precinct

National Park

The church is not in a National Park

Conservation Area

The church is in the following Conservation Area: Benson

Heritage At Risk Status

On Heritage At Risk Register?
This church is not on the Heritage at Risk Register
 

Approximate Date

Approximate Date:
Medieval

Exterior Image

Exterior View
Caption:
Exterior View
Description:
Year / Date:
2017
Copyright:
Originator:
PCC

Summary Description

St Helen’s Church is listed Grade II* and is located in the conservation area of Benson. It is the only church in the village. Originally there was a Saxon church on this site but no traces remain. This was replaced by a Norman church in the 12th century with side aisles added to the nave during the medieval period. The present tower was completed in 1781 and houses eight bells cast by Thomas Janaway of Chelsea. The chancel was rebuilt in 1861 designed by the architect Charles Buckeridge. Externally the body of the church is rendered whilst the tower is in ashlar stone and the chancel and vestry in flint and stone. Considerable re-ordering of the interior was undertaken in the 1970s. A church hall was constructed in 1999 and is linked to the west end of the north aisle The churchyard surrounds the church building and there is an additional churchyard to the south on the opposite side of Church Road which is outside the conservation area.

Visiting and Facilities

The church is open for worship.
Work in progress - can you help?
 

Church Website

Church Website:
https://bensonandewelmechurches.co.uk

Sources and Further Information

PCC (2017) Exterior View [Digital Archive/Graphic material]
Exterior View
PCC (2017) Interior View [Digital Archive/Graphic material]
Interior View
Church of England (2021) A Church Near You https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/33/ [Digital Archive/Index]
View information on worship and access at this church
CWGC (2016) Commonwealth War Graves Commission CWGC Unique File Reference Number: 04601 & 04602 [Bibliography/Data]
Number of War Graves: 32
Church Buildings Council (2019) Church Bells 8 Bells [Archive/Index]
8 Bells