The National Churches Trust (NCT) have given a grant of £4,457 to St Michael’s Church, Owermoigne (photo above) for the installation of a Hospitality and Display area in its Nave. Martin Cree, the Treasurer of St Michael’s Church, said “this grant from the NCT is a very welcome addition to our fund raising to make this work possible. The Hospitality area will enable us to provide refreshment at our services and events. Our first event on Sunday 20th September will be in partnership with the Thomas Hardy Society.”
The 3 Display panels above the Hospitality area feature:
• “The Distracted Preacher”, a short story about smugglers in Owermoigne by Thomas Hardy.
• “Smuggling in Owermoigne” and the story of the trial of smugglers from Owermoigne in the Assize Court in 1830.
• The Hardy family origins in Owermoigne, dating back to 1624.
Our Church welcomes visitors and is open every day from 8.30 to 4.00. Our Church is in the heart of the attractive Dorset village of Owermoigne and is close to the Jurassic Coast between Weymouth and Lulworth Cove. We are on the Thomas Hardy Walking Trail, which covers most of Dorset. The final leg of the Trail is from Owermoigne, the location of “The Distracted Preacher”, to Stinsford Church, where Thomas Hardy is buried.