Church of St Mary the Virgin, Bickington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St Mary the Virgin |
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North face of Bickington Village Church
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| 50°32′29″N 3°41′43″W / 50.5415°N 3.6953°W | |
| Location | Bickington, Devon |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| History | |
| Founded | 1443 |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Listed Building Grade I |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Ashburton St Andrew |
| Diocese | Exeter |
The Church of St Mary the Virgin is a historic church located in Bickington, Devon, England. This beautiful church was built in the 1400s. It is part of the Church of England and belongs to the group of churches known as the Ashburton benefice, which is part of the Diocese of Exeter. The building is very important historically, so it has a special status called Grade I listed. This means it's one of the most important historic buildings in England.
Contents
History of the Church
How Old is the Church?
The Church of St Mary the Virgin is very old, dating back to the 1400s. The first time it was officially mentioned was in 1420. Back then, it was known as a "daughter Church" of Ashburton. This meant it was a smaller church connected to the main church in Ashburton.
People think the church might be built on an even older Christian burial ground from before the Norman times (before 1066). One clue is an old lane that curves around the church. Another is the churchyard, which is shaped like a circle.
The current church building was mostly finished in 1443. The north aisle, which is a side section of the church, was added in the 1500s. There are also mentions of an even earlier church that might have been on this spot.
Who Paid for the Church?
It's not fully known who paid for the church to be built in Bickington. Building a church, even a small one, cost a lot of money back then. It's likely that many people in the community helped by donating what they could. Some local families might have been wealthy enough to contribute a lot.
Changes Over Time
In 1842, Bickington became its own official parish. This meant it had its own church and priest. However, in 1952, the church became connected to Ashburton again. The house where the vicar (the priest) lived, called the vicarage, was sold. By 2006, the church was once again a "daughter Church" of Ashburton.
The church building had a big restoration in 1884. This means it was repaired and updated. At the same time, a new vicarage was built where an older priest's house used to be. All this work cost about £2,114, which was a huge amount of money back then!
Church Building Details
The church is built from limestone. It has a strong tower with two levels and decorative tops called pinnacles. There's also a spiral staircase on the south side of the tower. During the 1884 restoration, the outside of the church and all the south walls were rebuilt.
Many beautiful carvings inside the church were made by an artist named Harry Hems from Exeter. He carved the lectern (where the Bible is read) and the credence table (a small table used during services). The Reredos, which is a decorated screen behind the altar, has very special carvings. It was designed by R. Medley Fulford and given to the church by the vicar, Reverend William Smith, in 1887.
The original screen that separated parts of the church was taken down in 1825. Only a few pieces remain. Some of these pieces have a special type of carving called "linen fold." These old pieces were used in the new low screen and the choir stalls. The screen also goes across the north chapel, which is known as the "Wrigwell Pew." The Bickford family, who owned land in Bickington for 600 years, have many memorials inside the church.
In 1955, the church was officially recognized as a Grade I listed building. This protects it as a very important historic site.
The Lych Gate
On the south side of the church, there is a special entrance gate called a lych gate. This gate dates back to the 1400s, but it was rebuilt in 1901. The new design tried to look as much like the original gate as possible. The old carved wooden beams were kept, but everything else was replaced.
The lych gate has a small room on the ground floor. Above it, there's another room reached by steps. This upper room has been used for many different things over the years! It once housed two poor people from the village. It was also used as a changing room for the priest, a meeting place for the Mothers Union, and a spot for the church council. It even served as a youth club meeting place and a cobbler's (shoe repairer's) shop!
Church Bells
In 1553, records show that the church tower at Bickington had three bells.
Two of the bells were remade in the 1600s. In 1960, all the bells were checked, retuned, and rehung in a new wooden frame. This work was done by John Taylor of Loughborough, a famous bell-making company. The fifth bell, which is the tenor bell, has a special crowned top.
Here are the bells and when they were made or remade:
- Tenor Bell: Made in 1664.
- Fifth Bell: Made in 1664.
- Fourth Bell: Originally made in 1774 and remade in 1888.
- Third Bell: Made in 1887.
- Second Bell: Made in 1888.
- Treble Bell: Made between 1906 and 1908.
