Editing Dorset (section)

==Religious sites==
{{see also|List of monastic houses in Dorset|List of churches in Dorset}}
[[File:Wimborne Minster June 2015.jpg|thumb|[[Wimborne Minster]]]]
Unlike all of its neighbouring counties, Dorset does not have a cathedral.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dorsetlife.co.uk/2010/12/and-the-night-shall-be-filled-with-music/ |title=And the night shall be filled with music |publisher=Dorset Life Magazine |year=2010 |access-date=4 August 2012 |archive-date=1 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121201093635/http://www.dorsetlife.co.uk/2010/12/and-the-night-shall-be-filled-with-music/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Over 95% of the county falls within the [[Church of England]] Diocese of Salisbury.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.salisbury.anglican.org/whos-who/diocese |title=Diocese |publisher=[[Diocese of Salisbury]] |year=2012 |access-date=27 July 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110121005856/http://www.salisbury.anglican.org/whos-who/diocese |archive-date=21 January 2011}}</ref> A small section to the west comes under the [[Diocese of Bath and Wells]] and to the east Christchurch and much of Bournemouth—both historically part of Hampshire—belong to the [[Diocese of Winchester]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bathandwells.org.uk/contact/directory/deanery/15922/ |title=Deanery of Crewkerne and Ilminster |year=2012 |publisher=[[Diocese of Bath and Wells]] |access-date=27 July 2012 |archive-date=17 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130517075921/http://www.bathandwells.org.uk/contact/directory/deanery/15922/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.winchester.anglican.org/parish-life/parishes/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130223164255/http://www.winchester.anglican.org/parish-life/parishes/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=23 February 2013 |title=Archdeaconry of Bournemouth |year=2012 |publisher=[[Diocese of Winchester]] |access-date=27 July 2012}}</ref> The [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Plymouth]] incorporates most of Dorset with the exception of Christchurch and a portion of Bournemouth which belongs to the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth|Diocese of Portsmouth]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.plymouth-diocese.org.uk/thediocese/introduction_dio.ashx |title=Plymouth Diocese Directory |year=2012 |publisher=[[Roman Catholic Diocese of Plymouth]] |access-date=2 August 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120808194459/http://www.plymouth-diocese.org.uk/thediocese/introduction_dio.ashx |archive-date=8 August 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portsmouthdiocese.org.uk/directory#30 |title=Portsmouth Diocese Directory |year=2012 |publisher=[[Roman Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth]] |access-date=2 August 2012 |archive-date=16 February 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130216092829/http://www.portsmouthdiocese.org.uk/directory/#30 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Few purpose-built places of worship exist in Dorset for faiths other than Christianity. In 2008 a Hindu temple was constructed in Blandford Forum for the [[Queen's Gurkha Signals|Gurkhas]] based at the town's military camp.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/districts/northdorset/1992662.new_temple_for_bravest_of_brave/ |title=New temple for 'bravest of brave' |newspaper=[[Bournemouth Daily Echo]] |date=24 January 2008 |access-date=5 August 2012 |archive-date=1 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121101174806/http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/districts/northdorset/1992662.new_temple_for_bravest_of_brave/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Bournemouth, which contains a higher proportion of Jewish residents than the national average, has three synagogues and an Islamic Centre and a mosque for Muslims.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=7&b=6275027&c=bournemouth&d=13&e=62&g=6392306&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1376591618724&enc=1&dsFamilyId=2479 |title=Religion |work=Neighbourhood Statistics |year=2013 |publisher=[[Office for National Statistics]] |access-date=15 August 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150501172913/http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=7&b=6275027&c=bournemouth&d=13&e=62&g=6392306&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1376591618724&enc=1&dsFamilyId=2479 |archive-date=1 May 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/dorset/content/articles/2007/01/23/muslim_venue_feature.shtml |title=Faith |year=2012 |publisher=BBC Dorset |access-date=23 August 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924213535/http://www.bbc.co.uk/dorset/content/articles/2007/01/23/muslim_venue_feature.shtml |archive-date=24 September 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Christianity was introduced to Dorset by the Romans.<ref>Yorke (p. 149)</ref> A 4th century [[Hinton St Mary Mosaic|Roman mosaic]] discovered near [[Hinton St Mary]] contains what is generally accepted to be an image of Christ.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/highlight_objects/pe_prb/t/the_hinton_st_mary_mosaic.aspx |title=The Hinton St Mary Mosaic |publisher=[[British Museum]] |access-date=31 July 2012 |archive-date=2 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120802161225/http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/highlight_objects/pe_prb/t/the_hinton_st_mary_mosaic.aspx |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>Newman & Pesvner (p. 231)</ref> Christianity became firmly established in the county during the Saxon period although there are few surviving Saxon churches; the most complete is [[St Martin's Church, Wareham|St. Martin's]] in Wareham which has features from the early 11th century.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=40137 |title=Religious houses: Introduction |year=1908 |author=Page, William |work=A History of the County of Dorset: Volume 2 |publisher=[[British History Online]] |access-date=5 August 2012 |archive-date=17 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120717072257/http://british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=40137 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/dorset/content/articles/2006/03/03/st_martins_feature.shtml |title=Dorset's Oldest Church |year=2008 |publisher=[[BBC]] Dorset |access-date=31 July 2012 |archive-date=2 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150702192146/http://www.bbc.co.uk/dorset/content/articles/2006/03/03/st_martins_feature.shtml |url-status=live}}</ref> Mediaeval churches are more prevalent in Dorset; most are 15th century and are of a [[Perpendicular Gothic|Perpendicular]] style.<ref>Lehane (p. 7)</ref> [[Sherborne Abbey]], one of the county's largest, is noted for its broad [[fan vault]]ing added during an extensive 15th century rebuild.<ref>Newman & Pevsner (p. 369)</ref> Founded in AD&nbsp;705 by [[Aldhelm]], the Abbey contained the [[Cathedra|chair]] of the [[Bishop of Sherborne]] and was granted cathedral status until 1075 when the diocese was transferred to [[Old Sarum]].<ref>Lehane (pp. 107–109)</ref> [[Wimborne Minster (church)|Wimborne Minster]] features a [[chained library]] and a 14th-century [[astronomical clock]];<ref>Lehane (pp. 145–146)</ref> Christchurch Priory is renowned for its [[Christchurch Priory#Miraculous beam|miraculous beam]] which, according to legend, was installed by Christ;<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dorsetlife.co.uk/2010/04/the-finest-parish-church-in-england/ |title=The Finest Parish Church in England |year=2010 |publisher=Dorset Life Magazine |access-date=5 August 2012 |archive-date=1 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121201093644/http://www.dorsetlife.co.uk/2010/04/the-finest-parish-church-in-england/ |url-status=live}}</ref> and the 15th century roof spanning the [[nave]] at St John the Baptist Church in Bere Regis is described by architectural historian [[Nikolaus Pevsner]] as the "finest timber roof of Dorset".<ref>Newman & Pesvner (p. 90)</ref> [[Saint Wite]]'s shrine is located in the north transept of [[Church of St Candida and Holy Cross|St Candida and Holy Cross]] at [[Whitchurch Canonicorum]]. It is the only church in the country, besides [[Westminster Abbey]], to have a shrine that contains the [[relic]]s of a saint.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cathedralofthevale.co.uk/st_candida_and_holy_cross.php |title=Cathedral of the Vale |year=2012 |publisher=St Candida and Holy Cross |access-date=27 July 2012 |archive-date=28 January 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130128210752/http://www.cathedralofthevale.co.uk/st_candida_and_holy_cross.php |url-status=dead}}</ref> 

Monastic foundations were once abundant in Dorset, but all ceased to exist at the Dissolution of the monasteries.<ref>Salmon (p. 94)</ref> The [[English Reformation|Reformation]] and the political and religious turmoil that ensued largely checked the building of new churches until the turn of the 18th century.<ref name=JD82>Draper (p. 82)</ref><ref>Newman & Pesvner (p. 27)</ref> Notable examples of [[Georgian architecture|Early Georgian]] churches include the [[Bastard brothers]]' Church of St. Peter and St. Paul in Blandford Forum, and [[St George's Church, Portland|St George's Church]] on the Isle of Portland, which has a steeple and tower inspired by the works of [[Christopher Wren]].<ref>Newman & Pesvner (p. 341)</ref> From the late 18th century onwards, churches in Dorset tended towards a [[Gothic Revival architecture|Gothic Revival]] style.<ref>Newman & Pesvner (pp. 30–31)</ref> A notable exception to this trend, however, is the Church of St Mary in [[East Lulworth]]—the first freestanding Roman Catholic church built in England after the Reformation.<ref name="Lehane59">Lehane (p. 59)</ref> George III gave permission to erect the building on the condition that it resembled a garden mausoleum rather than a church. It was completed in 1789.<ref name=JD82 /><ref name="Lehane59"/> Bournemouth, founded in 1810, has a wealth of 19th-century churches including [[St Peter's Church, Bournemouth|St Peter's]] and [[St Stephen's Church, Bournemouth|St Stephen's]]. [[St Dunstan of Canterbury Orthodox Church|St Dunstan's]] (formerly St Osmund's) in Poole is one of a small number of 20th-century churches in Dorset. The final major work of [[Edward Schroeder Prior]], it is one of the last examples of the [[Byzantine Revival architecture|Neo Byzantine style]].<ref>Newman & Pesvner (p. 334)</ref> The Church of St Nicholas and St Magnus in [[Moreton, Dorset|Moreton]] is noted for its elaborate engraved glass windows designed by [[Laurence Whistler]]. Severely damaged by a stray German bomb in 1940, the church subsequently underwent extensive renovation and Whistler had replaced every window by 1984.<ref>Lehane (pp. 95–96)</ref>