What you will see.
Eleanor Murray-Smith, our 2026 Bursary mason, will spend the afternoon in the church porch lettering a small piece of Welsh slate by hand. Visitors are welcome at any point between two and four o’clock. There is no booking and no ticket — please just walk up. The work is the second half of the Worthington memorial, which is being completed under the Stonemason’s Bursary award announced last winter.
Eleanor will work from a hand-drawn cartoon (a full-size pencil drawing of the letterforms) which will be pinned up next to her bench. As she works she will explain the choice of slate, the cutting tool, the angle of the chisel, and the depth and width of each letter. Anyone who wants to may ask questions; we have set out a small line of folding chairs along the porch wall for those who prefer to listen quietly. If the weather is fine the bench will move to the south side of the church, on the patch of mown grass where the trustees usually have tea.
Programme · 14.00 → 16.00
- 14.00 — Welcome from the trustees · the bench set up · the cartoon explained
- 14.15 — Eleanor begins cutting the first letter of the second line
- 15.00 — Tea and biscuits in the porch · a short rest for the mason
- 15.20 — Cutting resumes; visitors invited to look at the depth-gauge and the chisels
- 15.50 — Tools cleaned; questions; the cartoon rolled up
- 16.00 — Close, but trustees stay on for anyone who wants to walk the churchyard
What to bring
Almost nothing. A folding chair if you would like to be sure of a seat; a small umbrella if the weather is uncertain. There is no admission charge. If you would like to leave a small donation in the bequest plate in the porch, that is welcome but not expected.
Accessibility
The church porch is accessed by a single shallow step at the lych-gate and a level approach across the path. The porch itself has an even flagstone floor. There is space for two wheelchairs. The nearest accessible WC is in the parish hall (50 metres away, on the same level). If you would like a copy of the cartoon set in a larger typeface to follow Eleanor’s commentary, please ask a trustee on arrival. If you have any access needs we have not anticipated, write to [email protected] by Friday 19 June and we will do what we can.
A churchyard letter ought to be readable in low light on a wet November afternoon. That is what governs the depth, and the width, and the lean.Eleanor Murray-Smith
Getting to St Luke’s
St Luke’s Church is on Stour Way, Burton, Christchurch, Dorset BH23 7AA. There is a small car park beside the parish hall, with space for around eight cars; please leave the bays nearest the porch for less able visitors. Buses 1A and 1B (Yellow Buses) stop at Burton Cross, three minutes’ walk from the gate. The nearest railway station is Christchurch, two and a half miles to the south.