Although the earliest church in Sherborne can be traced back to 1172, St Mary Magdalene’s was probably built around the same time as the adjacent Sherborne House in 1651. In 1750, the first Lord Sherborne, James Lennox Dutton, rebuilt the church adding a spire and a vaulted roof to the tower. Further changes were made by the second Lord Sherborne between 1820 and 1859, when the gallery and box pews were removed. The pulpit, choir stalls and high wooden screen separating the nave from the chancel were added by Lady Sherborne between 1931 and 1934.