The Thomas Hardy Connection
The church has associations with Thomas Hardy's
mother and grandmother. The latter, Elizabeth (Betty) Swetman of Melbury Osmond
was married to George Hand Affpuddle, "a young man of whom her father
strongly disapproved", in Melbury Osmond church. They had seven children
of whom the fifth, Jemima was to become the mother of Thomas Hardy. Jemima,
after spending some time in London, went in 1835 or thereabouts to live in the
neighbourhood of Stinsford and there met her future husband. The wedding took
place in Melbury Osmond Church on 22nd December 1839 and Thomas was born the
following year. A copy of the marriage certificate is displayed on the west
wall of the nave.