Situated on the River Frome close to Maiden Newton and about eight miles north-west of the county town of Dorchester is Frome Vauchurch. This small parish comprising just 641 acres of mainly agricultural land is in the Hundred of Tollerford. A few of the cottages that make-up the village date from the 17th century.
The parish church, which some say is dedicated to St. Francis, consists of chancel and nave with a south porch and dates from the 12th century. It is built from local rubble and flint with freestone dressing; the roof is tiled. The one bell is dated 1631 and thought to be by one of the Purdues, the font dates from the late 12th century and the pulpit is early 17th century.
Monuments in the churchyard include: to Mary Bridle 1709; to William Goare 1660 and Mary, wife of William Goare Jun. 1695.
In 1937 the writer Sylvia Townsend Warner and her partner Valentine Ackland came to the village and moved into a cottage by the river where they lived for the rest of their lives.
