That the church was dedicated to St Hippolytus from its foundation is evidenced by the fact that Sir Humphrey de Beauchamp built the first chapel here in 1292/3 and was granted permission to hold a fair in his manor here on Feast of Saint Hippolytus in 1298 - only five years later.

King Edward I granted Sir Humphrey de Beauchamp, Lord of the Manor of Ryme, a licence to appoint a chaplain to celebrate divine service in Ryme and that a free chapel (' capella libra ') was built in 1292/3. The church was sited "within the court" of the Manor House (the area of the village in the vicinity of the church is still known today as Court Hill).

From its foundation, the church at Ryme was dedicated to Saint Hippolytus. This is borne out by the record of a grant in 1298 by King Edward I to Sir Humphrey de Beauchamp and his heirs of a weekly market on Mondays at his Manor of Ryme, and a yearly fair there on the Feast of Saint Hippolytus.

It is likely that at least some of the materials used in the building of the church would have been the local Ham Hill stone from the quarries at Stoke-under-Hamdon where Sir Humphrey had family connections. It was during Sir Humphry's time that the chancel was built and it was shortly afterwards that his son, of the same name, erected the nave of the church.

In 1297, we find that Henry de Colecote is described as the " Parson of the chapel of Rym".

The Chancel  |  The Nave  |  The Tower

Sir Humphrey's early part of the church is described as 13^th century. As well as parts of the original structure, it bears the elegant lancet windows with their deep embrasures which are so typical of the period. Lacking a chancel arch, the 13^th century chancel is, effectively, a continuation of the nave. The north and south walls each possess a single original lancet window. The east wall was rebuilt in the 17^th century and incorporates the east window which consists of three graduated lights under a stepped hood moulding - typical of the period.

The nave, like the chancel, dates from the late 13^th or early 13^th century. The eastern part of the north wall was rebuilt in the 17^th century and is markedly thinner than the older walls. the north doorway has moulded jambs and probably dates from the 15^th century. Judging by the 17^th century outer archway, also with moulded jambs, the north porch is a later addition.

There are two windows in the north wall of the nave. The eastern dates from the 17^th century and, although shorter, matches the east window in the chancel. The other is of similar age and design but of only two lights and possesses a square hood moulding. High up in the wall is a trefoiled window to lght the pulpit. Three windows pierce the south wall. The middle one is modern and replaces the former south doorway. That to the east dates from the 13^th century and consists of a distinctive pair of lancets. That to the west dates from the 17^th century and matches the window opposite it in the north wall.

The handsome tower, with its embattled parapet and pinnacles, dates from the early 17^th century. It is joined to the nave by a tall plain arch and a small a small round-headed entrance (usually closed) allows access from the west. Above this is a window of two lights beneath a square moulding. On the north side of the tower, a door of the 17^th century opens onto the square turret staircase. This is probably unique in Dorset in its timber construction. The stairway leads to the pyramidal roof which is surmounted by a weather-vane which is stamped with the date '1799'.

There was formerly a gallery at the first stage - as evidenced by the blocked door opening on the stairway - it was illuminated by the modern window in the south wall. The east wall of the second stage is pierced by a window comprising a pair of round-headed lights. Each wall of the belfry possesses a window of two lights in a square head. The clock, made in about 1760, chimes its hours on the tenor bell.

In a nation-wide survey of 1961, Ryme church was included in a the List of Buildings of Special Architectural or historic Interest.

The font bears an octagonal oak cover which carries the inscription " The gift of Ann Purde who died Jan. 1st 1637".

The church contains a number of monuments on the walls of the chancel and nave and in the churchyard, there is also one floor slab.