Brixton Devon
Church of St Mary, Brixton Devon
In 1086, the year of the Domesday Survey Brixton and its surrounding area was under the parochial charge of the priests of St. Mary & St. Paul at Plympton, a preconquest Saxon Chapel and College, which had a Dean or Provost and other priests and was a Royal foundation. At that time, It is likely that Mass would have been said in the village around a granite cross, or, possibly a domestic chapel of the Norman family of de Britrickstone, from whom the village derives its name. (. This manor was successively held by the Reynald, Hareston, Silverlock, and Wood families; the latter of whom lived for many generations in the old mansion, which was built in the reign of Henry VII., and was partly destroyed by fire in the last century).
In 1121 Plympton ceased to be a college and William, Bishop of Exeter, established an Augustinian Priory in its stead. This Priory was the Mother Church of Brixton, and the spiritual needs of the village the responsibility of the Prior, and through him, his visiting priests. As a dependent chapelry Brixton probably, then, justified a small building thought to have been on the site of the present chancel .
The present building dates from the second half of the 15c It is perpendicular in style and typical of many similar West Country churches which were rebuilt or enlarged about that time. However it was not advanced to the full position of a Parochial Church with burial rights, until 18th April 1477, so before this the villagers were obliged to carry their dead to Plympton for burial.
Sadly dilapidations, the interior "glaring with whitewash" , .and subsequent restorations in 1887 and 1894, the latter by Charles King of Plymouth, have destroyed many early features of great beauty and interest, including woodwork & glass. - 16c stained armorial glass, mediaeval roof bosses, bench ends and the rood screen.
There are 2 chapels - : the Hareston to the north east & the Spriddleston to the south east - associated, with the Wood and Fortescue families who owned these Domesday Manors for very many generations. Spriddleston no longer exists, but Hareston still survives
An original squint from the north east chapel with a view to the chancel altar still remains, the one from the south east is a modern insertion.
There is a late 15c window in the modern vestry which originally came from the Fortescue manor of Spriddlestone.
Many of the memorials are to members of the Lane family of Cofflett (Cofflete), within the parish. The Rev Richard Lane 1868 www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/yS53p55633 was Vicar for 60 years wrote a scholarly history of the district which is still preserved in the parish records.
In the Hareston chapel there are memorials to the 17c & 18c Wood family
There are 5 bells all dated 1737. inscribed: "When you ring us sweetly sing'.; 'Prosperity to the Church of England'.; 'Unto the Church the living call. Unto the grave I summon all.'; 'We were all cast at Gloucester by Abel Rudhall.'; & 'Robert Avent - Church Warden'
A 6th (treble) bell was added in 1934 - they are all rung regularly.
The registers date from 1668 - sadly previous ones were probably destroyed when the church is thought to have been used by the victorious Roundhead forces as a stable after the battle of Modbury in 1642,
The church now has a flexible community space at the west end for use of the congregation and the wider community. Recent projects have been the installation of an accessible toilet and kitchenette. "The lighting was the latest phase of works to provide a building for the 21st century, the old lighting system was past its sell by date and certainly in need of replacement. Latest generation LED units now make the church appear much more vibrant and the greater level of switching and dimming flexibility allows the right amount of light to be provided for what ever the occasion may be".
The original churchyard has been extended many times. Beyond the eastern extremity of the churchyard is the Park which is part of the Brixton Feoffee Trust dating from 1483. In addition is a row of trees first planted in 1677 by Edward Fortescue of Spriddlestone, to be felled for the relief of the poor.
The benefice is endowed with a farm at Modbury, purchased with £400 left by Elize Hele in 1658. The parish had 3 tenements, occupied rent free by poor people; and 10 cottages with gardens bought in 1594 and 1596. The clear yearly income, c £30 was distributed in clothing among the poor at Christmas.
www.brixtondevon.co.uk/history_gallery.php
Hans Goeckner www.google.co.uk/search?q=brixton+church+devon&source...
Brixton Devon
Church of St Mary, Brixton Devon
In 1086, the year of the Domesday Survey Brixton and its surrounding area was under the parochial charge of the priests of St. Mary & St. Paul at Plympton, a preconquest Saxon Chapel and College, which had a Dean or Provost and other priests and was a Royal foundation. At that time, It is likely that Mass would have been said in the village around a granite cross, or, possibly a domestic chapel of the Norman family of de Britrickstone, from whom the village derives its name. (. This manor was successively held by the Reynald, Hareston, Silverlock, and Wood families; the latter of whom lived for many generations in the old mansion, which was built in the reign of Henry VII., and was partly destroyed by fire in the last century).
In 1121 Plympton ceased to be a college and William, Bishop of Exeter, established an Augustinian Priory in its stead. This Priory was the Mother Church of Brixton, and the spiritual needs of the village the responsibility of the Prior, and through him, his visiting priests. As a dependent chapelry Brixton probably, then, justified a small building thought to have been on the site of the present chancel .
The present building dates from the second half of the 15c It is perpendicular in style and typical of many similar West Country churches which were rebuilt or enlarged about that time. However it was not advanced to the full position of a Parochial Church with burial rights, until 18th April 1477, so before this the villagers were obliged to carry their dead to Plympton for burial.
Sadly dilapidations, the interior "glaring with whitewash" , .and subsequent restorations in 1887 and 1894, the latter by Charles King of Plymouth, have destroyed many early features of great beauty and interest, including woodwork & glass. - 16c stained armorial glass, mediaeval roof bosses, bench ends and the rood screen.
There are 2 chapels - : the Hareston to the north east & the Spriddleston to the south east - associated, with the Wood and Fortescue families who owned these Domesday Manors for very many generations. Spriddleston no longer exists, but Hareston still survives
An original squint from the north east chapel with a view to the chancel altar still remains, the one from the south east is a modern insertion.
There is a late 15c window in the modern vestry which originally came from the Fortescue manor of Spriddlestone.
Many of the memorials are to members of the Lane family of Cofflett (Cofflete), within the parish. The Rev Richard Lane 1868 www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/yS53p55633 was Vicar for 60 years wrote a scholarly history of the district which is still preserved in the parish records.
In the Hareston chapel there are memorials to the 17c & 18c Wood family
There are 5 bells all dated 1737. inscribed: "When you ring us sweetly sing'.; 'Prosperity to the Church of England'.; 'Unto the Church the living call. Unto the grave I summon all.'; 'We were all cast at Gloucester by Abel Rudhall.'; & 'Robert Avent - Church Warden'
A 6th (treble) bell was added in 1934 - they are all rung regularly.
The registers date from 1668 - sadly previous ones were probably destroyed when the church is thought to have been used by the victorious Roundhead forces as a stable after the battle of Modbury in 1642,
The church now has a flexible community space at the west end for use of the congregation and the wider community. Recent projects have been the installation of an accessible toilet and kitchenette. "The lighting was the latest phase of works to provide a building for the 21st century, the old lighting system was past its sell by date and certainly in need of replacement. Latest generation LED units now make the church appear much more vibrant and the greater level of switching and dimming flexibility allows the right amount of light to be provided for what ever the occasion may be".
The original churchyard has been extended many times. Beyond the eastern extremity of the churchyard is the Park which is part of the Brixton Feoffee Trust dating from 1483. In addition is a row of trees first planted in 1677 by Edward Fortescue of Spriddlestone, to be felled for the relief of the poor.
The benefice is endowed with a farm at Modbury, purchased with £400 left by Elize Hele in 1658. The parish had 3 tenements, occupied rent free by poor people; and 10 cottages with gardens bought in 1594 and 1596. The clear yearly income, c £30 was distributed in clothing among the poor at Christmas.
www.brixtondevon.co.uk/history_gallery.php
Hans Goeckner www.google.co.uk/search?q=brixton+church+devon&source...