St Andrew's Church, Portland

St Andrew's Church, Portland is a ruined church standing on a slope above Church Ope Cove on the Isle of Portland, Dorset, England. It was the island's first parish church and is now one of its most important historic sites.

What is St Andrew's Church?

The ruins are what remains of a medieval church overlooking Church Ope Cove. It served as Portland's parish church until the mid-18th century. Today it is a Grade II* Listed Building and a Scheduled Monument. The southern retaining wall of the churchyard is Grade II Listed, as are three surviving churchyard monuments about 7 metres south of the church.

What is the history of the ruins?

A Saxon church is thought to have stood here first. In 1042 Edward the Confessor gave Portland to the Benedictine monks of St Swithun's in Winchester, and around 1100 they built a new church over the older foundations. French raiders landed in the cove in 1340 and 1404 and set fire to the church; each time it was rebuilt and extended.

Landslips caused further damage. In 1625 a slip damaged the building and half of the graveyard fell onto the beach. The Southwell Landslip of 1734-35 sent more graves down the slope. Repairs were costly, so after about ten years the church was abandoned and a new one was built at St George's Reforne. The site was also disturbed by a bomb during the Second World War.

What can you see nearby?

• Church Ope Cove - the small cove below the ruins. Its name combines the church with the local word "ope", a shortening of "opening" used for a gap in the cliffs leading down to the water.
• Rufus Castle (Bow and Arrow Castle) - a medieval fortification on a rocky promontory above the cove.
• The churchyard - old gravestones among greenery, including those that survived the landslips.
• South West Coast Path - the long-distance trail along the Dorset coast, from which the cove is easy to reach.

Frequently asked questions

Where is St Andrew's Church in Portland? On the Isle of Portland, Dorset, on the hillside above Church Ope Cove, at roughly 50.539 N, 2.4292 W.

Is the church still in use? No. It is a ruin and stopped being the parish church in the mid-18th century, when worship moved to a new building.

Why was it abandoned? Landslips in 1625 and 1734-35, together with high repair costs, led to its abandonment. Part of the churchyard slid towards the beach.

Are the ruins protected? Yes. The church is Grade II* listed and a Scheduled Monument; the churchyard wall and three monuments are Grade II listed.

Is this the "pirates' graveyard"? That is a popular local tale, but sources mainly document raids by French attackers rather than a separate pirates' cemetery.

Who is it for?

History lovers, fans of church architecture, photographers and coastal walkers. The ruins, the unstable cliffs and the view over the cove give the place a character found nowhere else on the island. Bring sturdy shoes, as the paths down are steep.