Hennock Devon
Church of St Mary, Hennock Devon
The Village is recorded in the 1086 Domesday Survey. Not long after the Conquest a family named " de Hainoc " were settled here , one of them William " Lord of Heniock"' had an heiress Beatrix who brought the manor to her husband Sir Gerrard de Clist in whose family it remained for several generations.
There was possibly a now lost Saxon church elsewhere in the area which was replaced here in stone in the 12c. This was given to Torre Abbey in 1207 who presented the vicars starting with Symon de Sancto Lando, installed on September 3rd 1259, - (Torre Abbey were patrons until 1539).
The church now consists of an aisled nave, chancel, south Lady chapel, south porch, western tower and a western vestry.
The two stage tower now holding 4 bells, survives from c1250 together with the holy water stoup in the porch and the c1170 Norman font, after the rest of the church including the screens and ceilure (decorated ceiling over the rood screen) were entirely rebuilt c1450 or possibly a little later as the arms of Bishop Booth , Bishop of Exeter 1466 - 1478 are placed in one of the windows
The 15c screen is of good Perpendicular work - The groining and cornice were probably removed in 1758. The doors remain
and It has been partially restored in 1956 by Herbert Read with the screen images of saints restored by Anna Hulbert between 1977 - 1983. Previously the painted figures were obliterated by a coating of oak paint, others owe their preservation to the high backed pews which were put in the church in 1758. www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/0895245se1
The registers date from 1541 - The birth of Edward VI. Is thus mentioned : — "The eleventh day of October, the year of our Lord God 1537, was borne Prince Edwarde, which was the 29th yeare of our Sovereigne Lord, King Henry VIII., by the grace of God King of England, France, and Ireland. God send him good olde age, and his father a long and prosperous reigne, Amen. Thomas Herle, vicar of Hennock."
In early 19c the church interior underwent significant change, medieval stained glass was removed, access paths were dug into the church yard and many graves were disturbed. The Rev. Washer's headstone (1604) now lies by the Lych Gate, this can't be his original burial place because this is where one of the row of poor houses once stood. www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/pA2883TKD4
It was thoroughly restored in 1875 at a cost of £1400, raised by subscription, T. Wills Esq. of Kelly giving £1000. At that time the rood staircase was blocked up (the external turret having been removed) but can still be seen in the south aisle - . In the upper doorway stands the figure of a little angel with a trumpet, this figure was probably previously on the canopy of a 17c restoration pulpit www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/97h9747qp1 At some time a fireplace (now blocked up) was installed in the south wall just inside the south door, its chimney was one of the porch turrets
"Electric light was installed in 1946 to commemorate the allied victories of May and August 1945. Half the cost of the installation was given by an evacuee as a thank offering and in memory of the Rev A Tobitt, late vicar of the parish. flic.kr/p/2mvpMSA
John Salmon CCL www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1730992
Hennock Devon
Church of St Mary, Hennock Devon
The Village is recorded in the 1086 Domesday Survey. Not long after the Conquest a family named " de Hainoc " were settled here , one of them William " Lord of Heniock"' had an heiress Beatrix who brought the manor to her husband Sir Gerrard de Clist in whose family it remained for several generations.
There was possibly a now lost Saxon church elsewhere in the area which was replaced here in stone in the 12c. This was given to Torre Abbey in 1207 who presented the vicars starting with Symon de Sancto Lando, installed on September 3rd 1259, - (Torre Abbey were patrons until 1539).
The church now consists of an aisled nave, chancel, south Lady chapel, south porch, western tower and a western vestry.
The two stage tower now holding 4 bells, survives from c1250 together with the holy water stoup in the porch and the c1170 Norman font, after the rest of the church including the screens and ceilure (decorated ceiling over the rood screen) were entirely rebuilt c1450 or possibly a little later as the arms of Bishop Booth , Bishop of Exeter 1466 - 1478 are placed in one of the windows
The 15c screen is of good Perpendicular work - The groining and cornice were probably removed in 1758. The doors remain
and It has been partially restored in 1956 by Herbert Read with the screen images of saints restored by Anna Hulbert between 1977 - 1983. Previously the painted figures were obliterated by a coating of oak paint, others owe their preservation to the high backed pews which were put in the church in 1758. www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/0895245se1
The registers date from 1541 - The birth of Edward VI. Is thus mentioned : — "The eleventh day of October, the year of our Lord God 1537, was borne Prince Edwarde, which was the 29th yeare of our Sovereigne Lord, King Henry VIII., by the grace of God King of England, France, and Ireland. God send him good olde age, and his father a long and prosperous reigne, Amen. Thomas Herle, vicar of Hennock."
In early 19c the church interior underwent significant change, medieval stained glass was removed, access paths were dug into the church yard and many graves were disturbed. The Rev. Washer's headstone (1604) now lies by the Lych Gate, this can't be his original burial place because this is where one of the row of poor houses once stood. www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/pA2883TKD4
It was thoroughly restored in 1875 at a cost of £1400, raised by subscription, T. Wills Esq. of Kelly giving £1000. At that time the rood staircase was blocked up (the external turret having been removed) but can still be seen in the south aisle - . In the upper doorway stands the figure of a little angel with a trumpet, this figure was probably previously on the canopy of a 17c restoration pulpit www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/97h9747qp1 At some time a fireplace (now blocked up) was installed in the south wall just inside the south door, its chimney was one of the porch turrets
"Electric light was installed in 1946 to commemorate the allied victories of May and August 1945. Half the cost of the installation was given by an evacuee as a thank offering and in memory of the Rev A Tobitt, late vicar of the parish. flic.kr/p/2mvpMSA
John Salmon CCL www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1730992