Worlington Churches |
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| As part of our Heritage project 2014 / 2019 the Worlington Heritage Group research the history of our churches. | |||
| In the current parish of East Worlington there are two churches, St Mary’s, West Worlington and St Mary’s East Worlington. Their history is of interest. Historically the parish that is now East Worlington was three different parishes, Affeton, West Worlington and East Worlington. | |||
| The de Affeton family are the earliest recorded holders of the manor of Affeton, from which they took their name. They held the manor from the feudal barony of Plympton, the barons of which were the Courtenay Earls of Devon and feudal barons of Okehampton . A parish was probably established there in the 13th century. |
Arms of de Affeton: Argent, a chevron engrailed between three fleurs-de-lys sable |
Affeton arms carved in relief on 15th century screen of the Affeton Chapel |
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Arms of Stucley: Azure, three pears pendant or |
The de Affeton line in the parish was superseded by that of Stucley around 1434 when Sir Hugh Stucley whose family were from Huntingdonshire married Katherine, the only daughter and heir of Sir John de Affeton. | ||
St Mary’s Church, West Worlington |
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St Mary’s is a stone church, consisting of chancel, nave, south porch and a western tower complete with wooden spire. Built mainly of stone rubble, but also some Bathstone dressings, with a slate roof. St Mary’s was built in the gothic perpendicular style, which was a common design for churches in the 15th century in Devon, and is so-called because of the emphasis on vertical lines. The spire (possibly rebuilt in the 17th century), has a slight twist, making it look not a little like a slightly crumpled wizard’s hat. It is covered in oak shingles and supports a peal of six bells. Inside the church a splendid feature is the wagon (also known as a barrel) roof, which runs the full length of the church (apart from the chancel). The roof boasts beautifully carved ribs and decorated bosses. The pulpit, lectern, altar rails and altar table are all mid-late 19th Century and are in the High Victorian Gothic style popular at the time. |
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View of the nave |
The roof boasts beautifully carved ribs and decorated bosses |
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The tower and chancel dates from the 13th and 14th centuries. Much of the church, however, is predominately fifteenth century. The chancel was restored and refurnished in 1881 at a cost of £140. Further restoration was undertaken in 1906 and 1913. The spire was restored after a lightning strike in 1976, but retains some of its early structure. The church underwent another major repair programme in 2011 to restore the floor and interior panelling. At the same time the bells were refurbished and are now rung on a regular basis. The church has 6 bells. |
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Chapel Screen |
On each side of the chancel is a memorial plaque dedicated to the Stucley family; this one is dated 1663 and with its flanking Corinthian columns is quite a feature. |
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St Mary’s Church, East Worlington |
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Although St Mary’s Church dates from the 12th century most of the church that you can now see was rebuilt in the 19th century as it had then become dilapidated. The rebuilding and renovation was paid for through the generosity of its then patron, the 5th Earl of Portsmouth at a cost of £1,000.The church once boasted a wooden spire, presumably matching the one on West Worlington Church, but regrettably this has been lost.It is believed that the East Worlington St Mary’s church was built on the site of a Saxon place of worship.
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St Mary’s is a stone built church, consisting of chancel, nave, south porch with a Norman doorway, and an embattled western tower containing 6 bells: The only part of the original 12th century church that remains is the Norman doorway to the nave and the church therefore is, in essence, a Victorian church.Not everyone has approved of the efforts to restore the church as testified by a disparaging remark from a renowned local historian, William Hoskins, in his 1954 book entitled simply “Devon”; in this he wrote about the church, “almost rebuilt in 1879 and spoilt | ||
Churches Unite |
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For at least 700 years East and West Worlington were separate parishes. That arrangement changed in 1885 when the two parishes were united for civic purposes under the title of East Worlington. 34 years later the livings were similarly united by an Order of council dated August 18th 1919 and the rectory of West Worlington was sold off as a farm. The living of East Worlington continued until 1958 at which time it was put into abeyance and the East Worlington rectory was also sold. In 1967 the two St Mary’s became part of Little Dart Team Ministry, which is a group ministry of twelve churches (Burrington, Chawleigh, Cheldon, Chulmleigh, East Worlington, Eggesford, Meshaw, Romansleigh, Thelbridge, Wembworthy, West Worlington and Witheridge). |
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