Barnstaple Parish Church

The Church's History

Historians are confident that there was a church on this site in Saxon Times.  Most Saxon churches were of a wooden construction, so there is little or no evidence of Saxon antiquity. When a church fell into ruin either by fire or warfare, a church was usually reconstructed upon the exact site of the former building. It is clear that it would have been a long, low, narrow building.

The first written reference to a church existing in Barnstaple was given by Dugdale in 'Monasticon', saying that, 'The tithes of Barnstaple were appointed to Malmsbury Abbey, to which Abbey, the Church had been given by King Athelstan'.

This made Barnstaple a vicarage (later to be called a parish), which it has been ever since.

As only a few people could read and write at this time, detailed information for this period is very sketchy.

The first Charter, which allowed any settlement to have a church describes the church simply as Eccesia Santci Petre de Barnstaple or Ecclesiastic, St. Peter of Barnstaple.

In 1107, the Bishop of Exeter, William Wariest granted it a Confirmatory Charter. In 1233, Bishop Briwere described it as 'the Mother Church of the Blessed Peter at Barnstaple'. He also allowed for a Chaplain to be at the church, with the provision of a house, financial support, with a horse and servant at his disposal.

The first recorded Vicar of St. Peters was in 1257, a man called Walter, Treasurer of Exeter. There has been an uninterrupted line of Priests serving this church until the present day.

It is true to say that by the 13th century the church was very well established in Barnstaple.

This present building was built and consecrated by Bishop Stapleton on September 9th 1318. Since that time the church has undergone many alterations and enlargements, as to leave very few traces of the original church.

The Victorian Years
 

The late 18^th and 19^th centuries saw many changes in the structure and character of the Parish Church.

In 1793, the spire was badly damaged by fire. Then there was a freak thunderstorm in 1810, when lightening struck the spire and completely melted the weathercock. This storm also caused severe damage to the roof and many of the windows were shattered.

Restoration began in 1823 and finally completed in 1825, when amongst other things galleries were installed, raising seating capacity to 1800. The opportunity was also taken to undertake major reordering within the church.

Disaster struck again in 1860, when Sir Gilbert Scott made a survey of the church and found that the whole structure was unsound. The earlier restorations had seriously affected the structure of the building.  Walls were bulging, the roof was sagging and the spire was dangerously near collapse.  The extent of the problem was so great that it was originally thought that the whole building should be pulled down.  However, Sir Gilbert Scott produced a plan to save the church using original 13th and 14th century designs. This work was carried out between 1866-1882.

The galleries were removed, the fabric was strengthened and the spire saved. The church was restored to some degree to its former glory.

The Victorian work on the church ended in 1875 with further work on the Chancel and the re-location of the organ also to the chancel area.  All monuments of any note were located in the south aisle and the Lady Chapel, these include the Blake, Peards and Raleigh Clapham memorials.

At the end of the Victorian era, the interior of the church had undergone a phenomenal amount of work.

Present Times
 

The changes made in more recent times have not been so radical or so controversial.

In the 1960's, a nave altar was introduced into parish worship.

In 1980 the bells were recast and rehung.

In the early 1990's the organ was refurbished and relocated, albeit roughly in the same position.

To mark the second millennium of Christ birth, the church decided to add to the living history of this ancient Parish Church.

In 1999, the High Altar from the redundant church of St. Mary Magdalene was refurbished and located in the south aisle near the bell tower.

An altar frontal and linen were made, a carpet donated and a solid oak altar rail, designed and hand crafted by Patrick Tighe was put in place. 

A church millennium wall hanging was made which is now located in a wooden case by the bell tower.The central picture was worked by Carol Elder, and each member of the church family embroidered their initials on a square of fabric. When all pieced together it measured 4 feet by 3 feet and represented the church family at the time of the millennium. Below the wall hanging is a book containing a profile of everyone who took part in the project.

In conjunction with this a time capsule was created.  A chest was filled to capacity with artefacts that depicted the life and times of the late 20th century. All kinds of memorabilia from potato peelers to war time photographs; clothes pegs to videos, childrens toys and prayer books. This chest is entombed somewhere in the church to be found at a later date!

It shows that life goes on in this wonderful ancient parish Church.

The Organ

The first reference of an organ in the Parish Church was in 1537. Records show payments to Thomas, an organ player and Robert, an Organ builder. There are also references to wages for an organ blower. During the same period there were also payments made for minstrels playing in church. This was not uncommon, and would have been for secular amusement and not for divine service.

The next reference is for a new or restored organ in 1756.  Then in 1764, a fine and powerful instrument was presented to the Church by Sir George Amyand, who was the Member of Parliament for Barnstaple.It was made by Thomas Crang, a local

organ builder.

Sir John Amyand was a personal friend of the composer Handel. It is assumed that Amyand was aware of the work of John Crang, as he was responsible for the maintenance of the organ at the Foundling Hospital for which Handels music was composed.

The organ was musically very noteworthy. It has a highly decorated case, with gilded pipes decorated with emblems. There were full sized statues of seraphs with trumpets on the top and the case was made of mahogany.

The organ at this time was located at the west end of the nave on a low gallery. It must have been an imposing sight, as it entirely blocked the west window.

In 1872, during one of the infamous Victorian make-overs, the organ builders, Vowles of Bristol moved it to the North Transept and Chancel. This tucked the organ behind arches and pillars, and much of the organ was encased in a space specially designed for it. During the move, much of the case was discarded and the musical quality of the organ was seriously impaired. As soon as the move was completed, it was deemed a complete disaster.

In 1938 considerable maintenance work including electric blower was installed by Osmonds of Taunton.

Between 1938 and 1991, it was noted on several occasions that the organ needed extensive and expensive work to be carried out.

In 1969 estimates of £8000 were given for essential work, but nothing was carried out.

By the 1970's, £4000 of emergency repairs were carried out to 'keep it in working order'.

In 1991, the decision was made, that if the organ was to survive, it needed a complete and total refurbishment.

As such a radical re-build was required, the brave decision was taken, not only to rebuild, but to relocate. It was intended to bring the organ out of the cupboard!

The work was undertaken jointly, by Lance Foy of Truro and Michael Farley of Budleigh Salterton at a cost of £100,000.