Lulworth Estate -stables, church & chape

The Lulworth Estate extends over 12,000 acres (20 square miles) of the south Dorset countryside, including 5 miles of the Jurassic Coast and internationally renowned landmarks such as Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door.

This Chapel - the first free-standing Catholle Church built for public worship in this country since the Reformation
Thomas Weld (1750-1810).
Religion was central in the upbringing of Thomas family, who were educated at home by a Jesult tutor. Five of the fifteen children entered the Church as priests or nuns.
His eldest son, (also Thomas) was inherited the Lulworth Estate, on the death of his father In 1810.
Sadly his wife died In 1815 and Thomas realised that his vocation lay within the Church. After his daughter's marriage was arranged in 1818 Thomas left Lulworth to study for the priestbood in Paris.
1821 he returned to England as an Ordained Priest, in 1826 he was consecratod as Bishop of Lower Canada, in 1829 when he was made a Cardinal - the first Englishman handured in this way since the Reformation. In the sarne year the Catholic Emancipation Act was passed, giving Catholics in this country full civil rights.

The Act of Uniformity made the services of the Church of England the only legal form of public worship. Everyone was ordered to attend church every Sunday, or pay a fine of 12d. Whilst these laws discriminated against anyone not conforming to the Church of England, Catholics were especially vulnerable because they could be forced to choose between loyalty to the Crown or to their religion, particularly after the Pope declared Queen Elizabeth excommunicated and deposed in 1570. Then if they chose their religion they could be treated as traitors. These were missioners, who were usually known by false names to protect their relatives as such priests were actively sought out, and many martyred by the traitor's horrible fate of hanging, drawing and quartering.Read more