Stinsford
The rural parish of Stinsford wraps around the northern and eastern edges of Dorchester, Dorset’s county town, with the River Frome creating the parish’s southern boundary and connecting us to Charminster and the Chalk Stream Villages. The parish covers about 1300 hectares of farmland, water meadow, woods, parkland and heathland. Within this rural setting live just over 300 people in the hamlets of Frome Whitfield, Cokers Frome, Waterston Ridge, Bhompston, Higher Kingston, Kingston Maurward, Higher Bockhampton, Lower Bockhampton and Stinsford itself. The parish boasts five grand houses: the Elizabethan Manor and Maurward House in Kingston Maurward (the centre of a thriving land-based further education college), Stinsford House (now renovated to make 10 maisonettes) and two Victorian gentlemen’s residences of Birkin House and Frome House.
The area within Lower Bockhampton, Kingston Maurward College, Stinsford and Higher Kingston is established as a conservation area and the River Frome water meadows are a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
Stinsford attracts many visitors to Thomas Hardy’s birthplace in Higher Bockhampton and St Michael’s churchyard, where his heart resides alongside the family graves. This is where the story “Under the Greenwood Tree” unfolds and the biennial “Going the Rounds” takes place to the sound of the music and Christmas hymns of the 19th century. It is also the resting place of Cecil Day-Lewis, a former Poet Laureate, and his wife, Jill Balcon.
There are walks through and around the historic Grade 2* park and gardens of Kingston Maurward College. Farming remains a key part of the local economy. Stinsford also hosts two business parks at Higher Bockhampton as well as a 20 unit self-catering holiday accommodation complex, cafes and an award-winning hotel/restaurant. Higher Bockhampton hosts the local nature reserve of Thorncombe Woods,
Stinsford's church life is a combination of traditional and modern. We are the only church to worship with sung BCP Matins and Evensong, every other week (alternating with a Eucharist), and with sung liturgies on Easter Eve. Our congregation is gathered, both from the parish and the surrounding communities, who enjoy coming together. We also have a number of canine congregants. Our events through the year, such as fetes and Christmas services, are well attended by locals and are considered a vital part of community life.
The Thomas Hardy Society holds annual and biennial events together with occasional Concerts and many society members are Friends of Saint Michael.