THE TRANSATLANTIC MAGAZINE
THE TRANSATLANTIC MAGAZINE
Tucked away in the beautiful Purbeck Hills in Dorset stands St. Michael & All Angels, a tiny church in the small hamlet of Steeple. Protected to the north and south by Purbeck's stunning chalk and limestone ridges, the church stands on a knoll less about a mile from the sea on two sides. The beauty and remoteness of its location is enhanced by the remoteness and natural beauty of the Ministry of Defence tank ranges at Lulworth, which comprises almost 5 miles of this beautiful coast.
The church has close links to the Washington family that emigrated to America in the 1600s. In 1390, Edmund Lawrence of Creech Grange married Agnes de Wessington, an heiress of the Washington family. Their descendant was Sir Edward Lawrence (also of Creech Grange), whose initials, with the date 1616, are on an armorial tablet over the East doorway of the North Transept.
In 1540 the Lawrences moved to Steeple, while a descendant of the Washingtons, John, settled in Virginia and became the great grandfather of George Washington. The first President of the United States descended from the younger branch of the Washington family, whose arms appear on this armorial tablet.
What is fascinating about the coats of arms, which are repeatedly found in the church, is the theory that they depict the device used by George Washington as his design for the flag of Washington D.C. in America. There seems a realistic probability that this is the case. A probability that we celebrated when Steeple was presented with the Washington flag by the Mayor of Washington D.C., which is hung today in the church. This flag, on which America's Stars and Stripes is based, still flies on public buildings in the US capital's administrative area.
In 2025 with $10,000 generously donated by The Daughters of The American Revolution, sponsored by the St James Chapter, NSDAR, UK, we have restored the church's windows.
On June 28, 2025, church officials will celebrate completion of their project during an annual fund raising event, and Americans are invited to attend.
Brigadier (retired) Ben Edwards OBE, the church's maintenance officer, explains: "Steeple is located in a tiny five house hamlet. The principal house is Steeple Manor, an ancient building with beautiful period exteriors. Steeple Manor has very special gardens; not large but created in about 10 'rooms' each part of the garden is very individual. The Gardens are open to the public just once each year, and this year on 28 June are open from 2pm to 5pm. Cream teas are served, and the church is open. We play our very rare barrel organ, and this year at 1530hrs we will celebrate the windows project in a very small ceremony."
The church welcomes any visitors from the US community based in UK.
Set your sat nav to the postcode BH20 5PA.
