Charminster
![](/Images/godic/202501/04/Tower_of_St._Mary's,_Charminster3904.jpg")
![](/Images/godic/202501/04/Dorset_UK_location_map.svg3904.png")
Charminster is a village and civil parish in west Dorset, England, situated on the River Cerne and A352 road 1 mile (1.6 km) north of the county town Dorchester. In the 2011 census the parish had a population of 2,940.
The village name derives from the River Cerne and the small 'minster' church of St Mary, resulting in "Cerneminster" (recorded in 1223), which eventually evolved into Charminster. The village includes Wolfeton house.