Gidleigh Devon
Church of the Holy Trinity Gidleigh Devon
"Ghiderleia" (the clearing of Gydda ), in the 1086 Domesday Survey , it was at that time held by Godwin the Priest from the Count of Mortain which indicates there was a church in existence at that time or before in Saxon times.
It was later from the time of Henry ll held by the Prouz / Prous family and the ruins of a Norman castle which was their seat, still survives near the church. www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/6G28Lcw321 This elder branch became extinct in the reign of Edward II when Gidley castle and manor passed with its heiress to the Mules family, and from the Mules in like manner to the Damarell family - William Damarell gave this estate to his daughter, the wife of Walter Coade of Morvall in Cornwall, in whose descendants it continued. Of late years it became the property of Bartholomew Gidley www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/5Yr55JmA46 on whose death in mid 18c the estate passed into the family of Rattery . The manor and advowson was then purchased under a decree of the court of chancery by the Rev. Thomas Whipham, vicar of King's Teignton.
The church was completely rebuilt at the end of the 15c. At that time the building would have had a thatched roof which according to records was re-thatched in 1753. The church underwent some reconstruction in the 1600s, the roof slated in the late 1700s and apart from that very little has been changed,
It now comprises a nave continuous with the chancel under a late 15c / early 16c ceiled wagon roof of Devon oak. The chancel has moulded ribs and purlins with some plain ,maybe 19c replacement) carved bosses. The south aisle roof is the same as the nave. The side aisle on the south side is separated from the nave by a three-bay arcade, supported by granite columns.
The west two stage tower now missing its pinnacles has a peal of 5 bells with the three oldest dating from c1450. which are rung from the floor of the church. Four were recorded in 1864;
Bell 1 – “lebs ois plaudit ut me tam sepius audit,” (The people rejoice the more they hear me).
Bell 2 – “Alexander Vagwell Church Warden T & P Exon 1674
Bell 3 – “Ste toma ora pro nobis,” (St. Thomas pray for us).
Bell 4 – “Est michi collatum ihc istud nomen amatum,” (To me is given Jesus that beloved name).
The 5th "Peace" bell was placed in the 1920s as a thanksgiving after the war.
Sadly by the 1970s the bell frame had become seriously unsafe and to avoid a collapse bell ringing stopped and the bells went silent for the next 20 years. Thanks to a concerted local fund raising effort which was boosted by a grant from the Millennium Commission the bell frame and its bells were restored in 1998. At the same time the tower was cleaned and the early plaster and bitumen lining removed the result of which is now a fine view of the tower’s inside. www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/241k0B9KE8 Like many other churches there was some concern as to the strength of the tower and to ensure its stability an iron band was placed around it in the 1800s carried out by a local blacksmith Tom Hill of Throwleigh which is still visible near the top of the tower, www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/45s9vtW337
Over the centuries the 15c screen has undergone various changes, it is thought that for some reason it was taken down and rebuilt sometime in the 1500s. During this process a large cross was removed from it in accordance with the demands of the Reformation. In 1853 the main section of the screen was repainted at which time the colour scheme was changed from gold, white, red and green to simply red, gold and blue. At that time the lower panels were embellished with transfers depicting various saints. www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/ix72qsz721
The 15c font is topped by a wooden cover made in 1843 by Charles Finch, the parish clerk. www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/F3j9X6PmY6
In 1853, John Aggett carved the granite pulpit and lectern and later the reredos in 1868 which was originally installed in Chagford church.
The chancel has recently undergone a scheme of renovation which included the laying of a new floor which made local headlines. During this work a small stone came loose revealing a late medieval crypt inside which were 2 coffins. After lowering a camera through the gap it was realised that one of the coffins was made of what appeared to be lead and of adult size. The other coffin belonged to a child and was made from oak wood. The photographs also revealed that under the chancel screen was an arched doorway and a set of blocked steps which would have led up into the central aisle. At this point it was decided to take the investigation no further and the loose stone was mortared back in-situ. However as work carried on another and much larger hole appeared due to the weight of the workmen and their wheelbarrows. This time the hole was big enough for a person to get through thus allowing access to the crypt when it was discovered that the supposed coffin was in fact made from galvanised metal not lead. Inside this was another coffin made from oak on which was a brass plate which named the occupant as Aurthur (sic) Whipham who lived from 1810 to 1882 who had in 1844 inherited the manor from his father Thomas who had bought it , and also served as rector. It is thought that the child’s coffin belongs to one of his daughters, possibly Carla who died at the age of five months in 1851, (In 1863 the rector, Arthur Whipham, submitted a petition for divorce from his wife on the grounds of her alleged adultery with Philip Rowe, a farmer's son from Berrydown farm, Gidleigh. They were caught in bed together at the rectory by P.C. James Bird of the Devon constabulary).
The pipe organ sits at the back of the south aisle. It was built by Murdoch, Murdoch and Company of London and comprises 5 stops, www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/6SL23Pnb44
The wall that now stands around the church was built sometime in the 1800s and was built from the recycled stone from the local Poor House - It was erected at the behest of the Rural Dean who was appalled that some of the villagers hung their washing on the tombstones to dry
www.google.co.uk/local/place/fid/0x486c55b97d474123:0x802...
Gidleigh Devon
Church of the Holy Trinity Gidleigh Devon
"Ghiderleia" (the clearing of Gydda ), in the 1086 Domesday Survey , it was at that time held by Godwin the Priest from the Count of Mortain which indicates there was a church in existence at that time or before in Saxon times.
It was later from the time of Henry ll held by the Prouz / Prous family and the ruins of a Norman castle which was their seat, still survives near the church. www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/6G28Lcw321 This elder branch became extinct in the reign of Edward II when Gidley castle and manor passed with its heiress to the Mules family, and from the Mules in like manner to the Damarell family - William Damarell gave this estate to his daughter, the wife of Walter Coade of Morvall in Cornwall, in whose descendants it continued. Of late years it became the property of Bartholomew Gidley www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/5Yr55JmA46 on whose death in mid 18c the estate passed into the family of Rattery . The manor and advowson was then purchased under a decree of the court of chancery by the Rev. Thomas Whipham, vicar of King's Teignton.
The church was completely rebuilt at the end of the 15c. At that time the building would have had a thatched roof which according to records was re-thatched in 1753. The church underwent some reconstruction in the 1600s, the roof slated in the late 1700s and apart from that very little has been changed,
It now comprises a nave continuous with the chancel under a late 15c / early 16c ceiled wagon roof of Devon oak. The chancel has moulded ribs and purlins with some plain ,maybe 19c replacement) carved bosses. The south aisle roof is the same as the nave. The side aisle on the south side is separated from the nave by a three-bay arcade, supported by granite columns.
The west two stage tower now missing its pinnacles has a peal of 5 bells with the three oldest dating from c1450. which are rung from the floor of the church. Four were recorded in 1864;
Bell 1 – “lebs ois plaudit ut me tam sepius audit,” (The people rejoice the more they hear me).
Bell 2 – “Alexander Vagwell Church Warden T & P Exon 1674
Bell 3 – “Ste toma ora pro nobis,” (St. Thomas pray for us).
Bell 4 – “Est michi collatum ihc istud nomen amatum,” (To me is given Jesus that beloved name).
The 5th "Peace" bell was placed in the 1920s as a thanksgiving after the war.
Sadly by the 1970s the bell frame had become seriously unsafe and to avoid a collapse bell ringing stopped and the bells went silent for the next 20 years. Thanks to a concerted local fund raising effort which was boosted by a grant from the Millennium Commission the bell frame and its bells were restored in 1998. At the same time the tower was cleaned and the early plaster and bitumen lining removed the result of which is now a fine view of the tower’s inside. www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/241k0B9KE8 Like many other churches there was some concern as to the strength of the tower and to ensure its stability an iron band was placed around it in the 1800s carried out by a local blacksmith Tom Hill of Throwleigh which is still visible near the top of the tower, www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/45s9vtW337
Over the centuries the 15c screen has undergone various changes, it is thought that for some reason it was taken down and rebuilt sometime in the 1500s. During this process a large cross was removed from it in accordance with the demands of the Reformation. In 1853 the main section of the screen was repainted at which time the colour scheme was changed from gold, white, red and green to simply red, gold and blue. At that time the lower panels were embellished with transfers depicting various saints. www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/ix72qsz721
The 15c font is topped by a wooden cover made in 1843 by Charles Finch, the parish clerk. www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/F3j9X6PmY6
In 1853, John Aggett carved the granite pulpit and lectern and later the reredos in 1868 which was originally installed in Chagford church.
The chancel has recently undergone a scheme of renovation which included the laying of a new floor which made local headlines. During this work a small stone came loose revealing a late medieval crypt inside which were 2 coffins. After lowering a camera through the gap it was realised that one of the coffins was made of what appeared to be lead and of adult size. The other coffin belonged to a child and was made from oak wood. The photographs also revealed that under the chancel screen was an arched doorway and a set of blocked steps which would have led up into the central aisle. At this point it was decided to take the investigation no further and the loose stone was mortared back in-situ. However as work carried on another and much larger hole appeared due to the weight of the workmen and their wheelbarrows. This time the hole was big enough for a person to get through thus allowing access to the crypt when it was discovered that the supposed coffin was in fact made from galvanised metal not lead. Inside this was another coffin made from oak on which was a brass plate which named the occupant as Aurthur (sic) Whipham who lived from 1810 to 1882 who had in 1844 inherited the manor from his father Thomas who had bought it , and also served as rector. It is thought that the child’s coffin belongs to one of his daughters, possibly Carla who died at the age of five months in 1851, (In 1863 the rector, Arthur Whipham, submitted a petition for divorce from his wife on the grounds of her alleged adultery with Philip Rowe, a farmer's son from Berrydown farm, Gidleigh. They were caught in bed together at the rectory by P.C. James Bird of the Devon constabulary).
The pipe organ sits at the back of the south aisle. It was built by Murdoch, Murdoch and Company of London and comprises 5 stops, www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/6SL23Pnb44
The wall that now stands around the church was built sometime in the 1800s and was built from the recycled stone from the local Poor House - It was erected at the behest of the Rural Dean who was appalled that some of the villagers hung their washing on the tombstones to dry
www.google.co.uk/local/place/fid/0x486c55b97d474123:0x802...