Barnstaple Parish Church

About Our Church

THE PARISH CHURCH stands in the centre of the market town of Barnstaple. It is enclosed within a tranquil churchyard, which includes St. Anne's Chapel and the Parish Rooms, formerly a primary school.  The ground surrounding the pathways is significantly higher, which denotes centuries of use for burials.  The churchyard was closed for burials in 1855 with old gravestones placed around the boundary walls.

The church which is made of stone, with a tower and steeple, is an imposing building, almost hidden from view, unless you come upon it by chance.

The steeple, like Braunton and Swimbridge, all have broached leaded spires. The leaded spire has over the years 'twisted' as the lead has been warped by the heat of the sun. 

The present clock bears the name of a local supplier and clockmaker, Sly and Co. of Barnstaple, but the piece was made by Gillet and Johnson, clockmakers of Croydon in 1913.

It was originally wound by hand, but now has an electric mechanism. Records show that there was probably a clock in place when the spire was built in 1386, but there was definitely a clock in the 16th century.  A new clock was donated to the church in 1709 and another in 1804.

The sundial is fixed to the south face of the Lady Chapel, dating from 1782. It has been renovated many times, with the names of many churchwardens being found under layers of paint. Over the years it has been removed, lost, found and rehung; the last renovation bears the names of Mr. Goss and Mr. Williams, churchwardens of the day.

The church is set in delightful surroundings resembling a mini cathedral close.

During the year 2000, a joint venture between the Church, the Town Centre Management and the District Council embarked on a Churchyard Enhancement Scheme. This included lighting, landscaping, new pathways, seating and an impressive granite storyboard around the central lighting column.

The Bell Tower

The first reference to bells in church is in 1388, some 70 years after its consecration. This record of 1388 is for repairing bells, which presumes that bells were already in use in the church well before that date.

No further record exists until 1554, when a payment of £2 13s 4d was made to John Courtney and Edward Fox for new clappers.  In 1555 all the bells were removed except for one. This was during the turbulent times of Henry VIII.  Four bells were returned during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1.

In 1619 records say that five bells were recast. In 1803 they were recast again, making a new peal of six bells at a cost of £253 9s 9d, by the bell founder John Bryant of Hertford.

In 1898, two trebles were added by Barwell of Birmingham.

Nothing further was done to the bells until 1979 when urgent work was needed.

The bells were removed, retuned and rehung by Arthur Fidler of Bow at a cost of £15,000 and were re-dedicated on November 2nd 1980.

The new peal consists of a tower of eight bells

St. Anne's Chapel

St. Anne’s Chapel is located in the churchyard. It is the only surviving chantry chapel left in Barnstaple.  The other two chapels were the Chapel of All Saints, near the old north gate of the town, and the Chapel of St. Nicholas, near the old west gate, close to the river. The chapel of St. Nicholas survived until 1852 when it was demolished to widen the street and quay.

St. Anne's probably survived due to its proximity to the Parish Church. A Chantry Chapel is a place of worship paid for and maintained by a single benefactor, so that prayers can be said for the soul of a particular person.

It is believed that St. Anne's was financed by Reverend John Holman, in 1462, when he was Vicar of Barnstaple.

He was a Barumite, a wealthy man, having inherited much property. He bequeathed all his wealth to establish this chapel, and also paid for a chaplain to take services in the chapel and at the Parish Church.

During the reign of Edward VI, the chapel was dis-established, and was purchased by the town in 1549.

Throughout the country, monasteries, abbeys and chapels were sold, and the money being gifted to the monarch.

It then became a Grammar School, and its most famous pupils include John Gay (1685-1732), poet and playwright and author of 'Beggars Opera'. St. Cuthbert Mayne was also a former pupil, who was martyred in 1577.

In the late 17th century, it was used as a place of worship by French Heugonots, protestants who had escaped persecution in their own country.

Later it became a museum and is owned by Barnstaple Town Council.