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All Saints' Church, Bryher
All Saints' Church, Bryher.jpg
Bryher Church
49°57′09″N 6°21′04″W / 49.9526°N 6.3512°W / 49.9526; -6.3512
OS grid reference SV 880 149
Location Bryher, Isles of Scilly
Country England
Denomination Church of England
Churchmanship Broad Church
Website https://www.ioschurches.co.uk/
History
Dedication All Saints
Architecture
Heritage designation Grade II listed
Administration
Parish Bryher
Deanery Powder
Diocese Truro
Province Canterbury

All Saints' Church is a special old church in Bryher, Isles of Scilly. It is part of the Church of England and is listed as a Grade II listed building. This means it is an important historic place that needs to be protected.

History of All Saints' Church

BryherChurchInside
View of the east end of the church
History board in Bryher church
History board showing details of the 1822 restoration

Bryher is the most westerly place in England where people live. This means All Saints' Church is the most westerly Anglican church in the Canterbury and York areas.

Early Beginnings (1742)

The first time a church was officially recorded on Bryher was in 1742. A small building was dedicated to 'God and All Saints' by Reverend Paul Hathaway. He was the chaplain from St Mary's. This early church was about 24 feet long and 13 feet wide. It also served the people living on the nearby island of Samson.

Building and Changes Over Time

The church is built from strong granite stones. It has a simple rectangular shape.

  • 1822: The church was made bigger by a surveyor named Christopher Strick. This allowed it to seat 154 people.
  • 1832-1833: Thomas Downing and William Williams carried out repairs.
  • 1860: A tower and a porch were added to the church.
  • 1861: A simple granite font was installed. This is a special basin used for baptisms.
  • 1882: More changes and additions were made.
  • 1897: A new chancel was added. This is the part of the church near the altar.
  • 1930: The church got a new roof, which was built 6 feet higher than the old one.

The church has been officially listed as a historic building since 1975.

Modern Updates and Services

Stained glass in All Saints' Church, Bryher 01
Stained-glass window by Oriel Hicks

The beautiful stained glass windows in the church were replaced. This work was finished in 2007. All four windows were made by Oriel Hicks from Phoenix Studio. They show important sayings of Jesus Christ.

Today, services are held at the church once a week. Special events like weddings and christenings also take place here. The first confirmation service ever recorded at the church happened in 2013.

Church Family in the Isles of Scilly

All Saints' Church is part of a group of churches called the United Benefice of the Isles of Scilly parishes. This means it works together with other churches on the islands. These include:

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