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The Nave and Chancel

The Reredos consists of a large picture of Our Lord on mosaic glass between two tall fluted pillars of the Corinthian order surmounted by a triangular pediment and a Pelican-in-Piety. The stained glass windows on either side of the altar represent St. Peter and St. Paul the Patron Saints of the church. The most striking features as you walk down the central aisle towards the chancel are the magnificent set of giant Portland stone columns with their Ionic capitals and the beautifully decorated ceiling. On the South is the ornate chair, beautifully carved and decorated with acanthus leaves, made in 1748 for the use of the Bailiffs of the Borough of Blandford Forum. John Bastard was to occupy it in 1750 and 1752. It bears the arms of the Borough and is dated on the reverse, two inward-facing seat benches are provided for use by members of the Council.

The organ gallery was extended into the first two bays in 1819 and extended to the remainder of the Nave in 1837 at a time when the church could not seat all those wanting to attend. The Nave galleries were removed in 1971, the need having disappeared.

The pulpit is in at least its third position since it first came to Blandford. It is believed to have been designed by Sir Christopher Wren in the 17th century for the church of St. Antholin in the City of London. That church was demolished in 1874 and the pulpit came to Blandford. It had originally been placed near the commencement of the apse on the North side and was reached by an elegantly carved wooden stairway. It was later removed to a more central position in the same area and eventually, after the erection of the new chancel, to its present position South of the central aisle. It seems to have suffered some maltreatment in the course of these moves.

The North Aisle

At the East end will be seen the Memorial Chapel to the churchmen who fell in the Great War of 1914-1918. The Altar here is of finely carved oak with the bronze figure of Jesus Christ upon the Cross and the names of those who lost their lives. In front are painted the figures of St. Edmund, St. George and St. Oswald. On the North wall are boards setting out some of the benefactions of the town with gaps in the lettering where the name 'Blandford' was painted out during the 1939-45 war to baffle the expected German invaders!
	A wall-brass records that in 1880 to 1883 the church was thoroughly restored, new gas mains and pendants fixed, a complete pews cut down and altered, sixty additional sittings provided by filling up cross aisles, the pulpit and reading desk removed from the centre of nave, and a new pulpit, reading desk and lectern substituted. The tiling laid at East end the organ restored and enlarged, a vestry built, the Peal of eight bells recast a new clock with chimes erected, and the wall in East and South sides of the churchyard rebuilt. Prior to this time the original box pews had been in use. There are memorials on this North wall to many important Blandford families including those of King, Waters, Pitt, Creech, Marsh, Porter, Roe, Lacy Daniell and Raynes, many of these bearing their armorial shields.