St John the Baptist

The historian WG Hoskins said the original name of the village was 'Hafoc’schurch' indicating the presence of a church in pre Norman times.

The first recorded rector is 1295 and at that time the church belonged to the Abbey of Cerne.

The church displays a series of phases of development:

• Norman chancel arch is the earliest visible component of the church, datable to the early 12th century. This probably formed a two cell (nave and chancel) plan.
• The addition of a north aisle and arcade, probably in the mid 12th century.
• The rebuilding of the south side with an aisle and arcade in the early English style, about 1200 4. The rebuilding of the tower in the early 16th century.

The major reconstruction of the church in 1859-61, with the rebuilding of the choir and external walls of the aisle. The insertion of a taller clerestory in the nave to allow more light into the body of the church. The architect was Hicks of Dorchester. Thomas Hardy was an apprentice to Hicks at this time. Reference to Hawkchurch can be found in his note books for this period.