h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Although St.Aldhelms Chapel is an ancient monument,it is still in use at certain times of the year.The chapel stands in an isolated spot on the edge of a cliff 150'above the sea in the parish of Worth Matravers.
http://people.bath.ac.uk/lismd/dorset/churches/st-aldhelm.html
Apart from the above information,visitors notice that 7.77m.square shape is unusual for an ecclesiastical building,secondly,the angles of the building are pointing approximately to the cardinal points of the compass,not the walls as is customary.Apart from serving a small christian community or cell that had been there long before the 12th.centuary,it also served as a lookout position for Corfe Castle on what would have been the castles blind side in the channel approach.There are mediaeval graves outside the walls and in a field close by a grave was excavated,it was of a female,aged 30 to 40yrs.old.She was thought to be an an anchoress living a holy life close to the chapel as the foundations of a small building 2m.square were close to the grave.Local legend has it that there was a leper colony there,maybe she ministered to them.The norman pillar in the chapel has been used by young girls who want wishes granted.Lots of old hairpins and trinkets were found in the hollow pillar when the building was being restored.
I have pictures of the inside of the chapel also some close ups of the grafitti on the norman pillar dated 1665.I have no idea where to put them,I am sure someone will tell me

I have no idea if you want more on the chapel or maybe more on St Aldhelm the reluctant first bishop of Sherborne.He was a strange man,who it was reputed recited the psalter up to his neck in a barrel of freezing cold water.
I have requested membership to the h2g2 photo group,if accepted I can show some pics,of the vaulted Norman interior and the new altar table consecrated in 2005 by Dr.Rowan Williams as part of the 1300th.celebrations of the anniversary of St.Aldhelm becoming Bishop of Sherborne.

bluesue, this is great stuff. And apologies for not getting back to you sooner. I'm glad you've applied to join the h2g2 photogroup and I look forward to seeing some of your pics.

Any extra info in the chapel would be welcome but you've got us really intrigued about the reluctant St Aldhelm...

>>> who it was reputed recited the psalter up to his neck in a barrel of freezing cold water.

Bluesue I've just admitted you
Welcome to the group!

Annie/GB

Ooo Worth Matravers i thats a name I've not heard in a while...I used to go Rock Climbing loads at Windspit Quarry,

http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?client=public&X=397500&Y=77500&width=500&height=300&gride=397512.466201983&gridn=77565.9370046011&srec=0&coordsys=gb&db=freegaz&addr1=&addr2=&addr3=&pc=&advanced=&local=&localinfosel=&kw=&inmap=&table=&ovtype=&keepicon=true&zm=0&scale=50000&multimap.x=251&multimap.y=195

down a little track to sea from Worth Matravers. I spent many an enjoyeable summers evenings on the rock faces there as the sun set into the sea. Then back into the village for a few pints at possibly the best pub in the country the Square and Compass in the village.

http://public.fotki.com/dorsetsue/ Ah!the square and compass,why do you think I keep going there.Trouble is,it is a good half hour drive if I use the studland ferry,so I am limited to 1pt.which is very hard work as the ale is superb.If you look at the above link under Arne& the Purbecks you should see some scenery that you know,sadly the pub isn't on there.Did you know the pub has been in the same family for over a centuary?I mustand finish my bit on St Aldhelm.
Thanks h2g2 photo club,I have sent the pics to be edited,I can't do this myself just now as my monitor is not working properly,I shall probably be getting my telegram from the Queen before PC world get round to replacing it

http://www.request.org.uk/main/dowhat/saints/aldhelm.htm
This link makes him sound like the Pied lutist of Frome
St Aldhelm was a kinsman of Ine King of Wessex.He recieved his early education at Malmesbury,in Wiltshire.His teacher was an Irish christian named Maildubh.
The Saxons pompous style and his partiality for Greek can be put down to his association with Adrian,who by now had become Abbot of Canterbury
On returning to Malmesbury he took over from his former teacher Maildubh,and directed Malmesbury school,and as Abbot of the monastery.As Abbot his life was austere,it is recorded that he was wont to recite the entire psalter up to his neck in ice cold water.
In the year 705,Hedda Bishop of the west Saxons died,and,his diocese being divided,the western portion being assigned to Aldhelm,who reluctantly became Bishop of Sherborne.Reluctant because he wrote several treaties trying to unite all the dioces.His episcopate was fairly short lived as he died in 709ad.
He died at Doulting in Somerset.His body was carried 50 miles back to Malmesbury,crosses were erected at each halting place his body rested overnight. Many miracles were attributed to him both during his life and after his death.
His feast day was on May25th.and in 857ad.King Ethelwulf erected a silver shrine at Malmesbury in his honour.
"Aldhelm was the first Englishman who cultivated classical learning with any success,and the first of whom any literary remains are preserved"(Stubbs)

I forgot to mention the pix are now available!