Honeychurch Devon
Honeychurch village named as the site of “Huna’s Church” reflecting the Anglo-Saxon landowner here in the 10c .
The 1086 Domesday survey recorded that "Honechercha" had 30 inhabitants & 5 farms , very similar to today, and it had passed to the ownership of the Norman Baldwin the Sheriff .
Entering by an 1897 gate which celebrates the first 60 years of Queen Victoria's reign www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/A84236K4U7, the church is dedicated to Mary, the present nave and chancel are essentially the Norman church of c1150, which replaced Huna’s own wood and thatch building . The south porch and two stage west tower followed later.
This is a remarkable survival of a small medieval church which has virtually escaped 19c & 20c restoration and whose interior in particular has almost been untouched since the 18c www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/qL76221r5r retaining a unique charm - Lit by candles & oil lamps, it has no mains electric and heating is by calor gas
The immediate pointers to Norman origins are found in the round-headed south doorway, www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/C9V7a2kU3L the deeply splayed chancel window above the priest’s door www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/P7X6v5Gmj0 and the carved rustic font www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/8L0i1m2Ca6
Reconstruction was carried out late in the 15c when many of the Norman windows were replaced in granite from nearby Dartmoor, and the nave roof was remodelled and given a ceiling supported by thin timber ribs www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/2J02v84sS3 with carved bosses at the joins. www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/698yphiDV3 . The two stage tower (unfortunately later rendered) was also added, it's coursed stone contrasts with the rubble of the nave and chancel. www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/4215346s62 - it holds 3 bells. The porch dates to 16c
The north side benches in the nave are medieval. www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/Z43o8r553n, however the box pews on the south are probably 18c www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/j2Jh785U6p The pulpit is early 17c www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/6q0QwRXL0G
The church boasts 3 royal coats of arms - a wall painted one to Queen Elizabeth l, opposite the south door which may have replaced the usual St Christopher www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/d4f5510312 , another of George ll www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/72003f15v1 and lastly one to George lll www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/DxvFzj115C
Michael Garlick CCL commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:St_Mary%E2%80%99s_chu...
Honeychurch Devon
Honeychurch village named as the site of “Huna’s Church” reflecting the Anglo-Saxon landowner here in the 10c .
The 1086 Domesday survey recorded that "Honechercha" had 30 inhabitants & 5 farms , very similar to today, and it had passed to the ownership of the Norman Baldwin the Sheriff .
Entering by an 1897 gate which celebrates the first 60 years of Queen Victoria's reign www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/A84236K4U7, the church is dedicated to Mary, the present nave and chancel are essentially the Norman church of c1150, which replaced Huna’s own wood and thatch building . The south porch and two stage west tower followed later.
This is a remarkable survival of a small medieval church which has virtually escaped 19c & 20c restoration and whose interior in particular has almost been untouched since the 18c www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/qL76221r5r retaining a unique charm - Lit by candles & oil lamps, it has no mains electric and heating is by calor gas
The immediate pointers to Norman origins are found in the round-headed south doorway, www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/C9V7a2kU3L the deeply splayed chancel window above the priest’s door www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/P7X6v5Gmj0 and the carved rustic font www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/8L0i1m2Ca6
Reconstruction was carried out late in the 15c when many of the Norman windows were replaced in granite from nearby Dartmoor, and the nave roof was remodelled and given a ceiling supported by thin timber ribs www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/2J02v84sS3 with carved bosses at the joins. www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/698yphiDV3 . The two stage tower (unfortunately later rendered) was also added, it's coursed stone contrasts with the rubble of the nave and chancel. www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/4215346s62 - it holds 3 bells. The porch dates to 16c
The north side benches in the nave are medieval. www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/Z43o8r553n, however the box pews on the south are probably 18c www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/j2Jh785U6p The pulpit is early 17c www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/6q0QwRXL0G
The church boasts 3 royal coats of arms - a wall painted one to Queen Elizabeth l, opposite the south door which may have replaced the usual St Christopher www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/d4f5510312 , another of George ll www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/72003f15v1 and lastly one to George lll www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/DxvFzj115C
Michael Garlick CCL commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:St_Mary%E2%80%99s_chu...