Dartmouth Devon
Church of St Clement, Townstal Dartmouth, Devon the mother church of the region, stands some 350ft above the main town, on the narrow tract which, since ancient times, has been a right-of-way from the coast through Longcross to the River Dart crossing at Hardnesse.
It is the oldest ecclesiastical foundation in the district. Probably of Saxon origin though it is unrecorded in the 1086 Domesday manor of Dunestal. Evidence suggests Saxon place of worship having originally been placed on Townstall Hill.
It was granted to Torre Abbey in c 1198,
The present building dates partly from the 13c with some Norman traces. The High Altar dates from James I and the font of Purbeck stone, dates from the 13c or possibly early 14c.
In 1329 the vicar of Townstall allegedly drowned himself and the Bishop of Exeter punished this crime by issuing an interdict that forbade any religious services from taking place at the church for two years. The Bishop however gave licence to William Bacon, one of the wealthiest burgesses of the town of Dartmouth, to hold private services at a chapel in his house, but nothing was done for the general public of the town.
In 1330 King Edward III visited Dartmouth and was petitioned by the town's burgesses to allow them to build a church down by the waterside which eventually became the church of St Saviour dedicated in 1372 , this saved the "very great fatigue of their bodies" in climbing the hill to St Clements .but came with the proviso that if it was neglected in favour of the mother church then it would be closed.
The building was "over restored" in 1881-5 by Ashford
in 2015 renovations took place when decayed pews and floors were removed and a new slate floor laid over underfloor
heating. • The chancel was given a blue lias floor which curves out dramatically into the crossing. New quality wooden chairs allow total flexibility of use. The curved altar rails can be removed and stored on special hooks in the North
transept. www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/UagKw4mA0u
There is now a new disabled-friendly north inner porch, with adjacent oak kitchen and servery.
• Ringing chamber raised to balcony level to free up space for disabled toilet. www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/wor52oG6U3
The south transept was adapted as a weekday chapel and for informal worship etc.
Complete new lighting was installed with high-efficiency lights and provision for theatre lights etc.
The driving factor in this scheme was the wish to make the whole church more attractive and inviting to worshippers, especially families with young children. In this it has been very successful and now hosts a whole variety of social activities. It is also far more adaptable for outside community events such as concerts, orchestra rehearsals, University of the Third Age, a Rock Club (all weekly) and Art exhibitions etc. .
Bluejackett01 www.findagrave.com/cemetery/2418700/st.-clements-townstal...
Dartmouth Devon
Church of St Clement, Townstal Dartmouth, Devon the mother church of the region, stands some 350ft above the main town, on the narrow tract which, since ancient times, has been a right-of-way from the coast through Longcross to the River Dart crossing at Hardnesse.
It is the oldest ecclesiastical foundation in the district. Probably of Saxon origin though it is unrecorded in the 1086 Domesday manor of Dunestal. Evidence suggests Saxon place of worship having originally been placed on Townstall Hill.
It was granted to Torre Abbey in c 1198,
The present building dates partly from the 13c with some Norman traces. The High Altar dates from James I and the font of Purbeck stone, dates from the 13c or possibly early 14c.
In 1329 the vicar of Townstall allegedly drowned himself and the Bishop of Exeter punished this crime by issuing an interdict that forbade any religious services from taking place at the church for two years. The Bishop however gave licence to William Bacon, one of the wealthiest burgesses of the town of Dartmouth, to hold private services at a chapel in his house, but nothing was done for the general public of the town.
In 1330 King Edward III visited Dartmouth and was petitioned by the town's burgesses to allow them to build a church down by the waterside which eventually became the church of St Saviour dedicated in 1372 , this saved the "very great fatigue of their bodies" in climbing the hill to St Clements .but came with the proviso that if it was neglected in favour of the mother church then it would be closed.
The building was "over restored" in 1881-5 by Ashford
in 2015 renovations took place when decayed pews and floors were removed and a new slate floor laid over underfloor
heating. • The chancel was given a blue lias floor which curves out dramatically into the crossing. New quality wooden chairs allow total flexibility of use. The curved altar rails can be removed and stored on special hooks in the North
transept. www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/UagKw4mA0u
There is now a new disabled-friendly north inner porch, with adjacent oak kitchen and servery.
• Ringing chamber raised to balcony level to free up space for disabled toilet. www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/wor52oG6U3
The south transept was adapted as a weekday chapel and for informal worship etc.
Complete new lighting was installed with high-efficiency lights and provision for theatre lights etc.
The driving factor in this scheme was the wish to make the whole church more attractive and inviting to worshippers, especially families with young children. In this it has been very successful and now hosts a whole variety of social activities. It is also far more adaptable for outside community events such as concerts, orchestra rehearsals, University of the Third Age, a Rock Club (all weekly) and Art exhibitions etc. .
Bluejackett01 www.findagrave.com/cemetery/2418700/st.-clements-townstal...