Holy Cross Church, Newton Ferrers facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Holy Cross Church |
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Church of England |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Active |
| Location | |
| Location | Newton Ferrers, Devon, England |
| Architecture | |
| Architectural type | Church |
Holy Cross Church is a historic Church of England church. You can find it in Newton Ferrers, a village in Devon, England. This church has been around since the 1200s! It's a very important building, listed as a Grade I listed building since 1960. This means it's a special building that needs to be protected.
Contents
The Long History of Holy Cross Church
How Old Is This Church?
People have worshipped in a church here for a very long time. Records show a church existed in Newton Ferrers as early as 1084. Back then, it was called St Mary's. The Ferrers family rebuilt the church in the early 1100s. It was rebuilt again in 1260. Later, in 1342, a rector named Rev. Henry de Ferrers made it even bigger. More changes happened in 1460. This is when the side sections (called aisles) and the tall tower were added.
A Big Makeover in the 1800s
By the late 1800s, the church needed a lot of repair. So, from 1885 to 1886, Holy Cross Church had a huge restoration. This big project cost about £3,500, which was a lot of money back then! A famous architect named George Fellowes Prynne designed the changes.
Most of the church had to be rebuilt because it was in such bad shape. Local builders, Messrs. Stevenson and son, did the work. Many new parts were added inside the church. These included the font (where baptisms happen), the pulpit (where sermons are given), and special screens. A craftsman named Harry Hems from Exeter made many of these new pieces. He also carved beautiful designs into the church's wooden ceiling.
The Bishop of Exeter, Edward Bickersteth, officially reopened the church on February 23, 1886. After this big makeover, only the west tower and the main arches inside were still from the medieval times.
What Does Holy Cross Church Look Like?
Building Materials and Parts
Holy Cross Church is built from stone. It has a slate roof. The church has several main parts. These include the nave (the main area where people sit), north and south aisles (side sections), a chancel (the area near the altar), a vestry (a room for clergy), a south porch (the entrance), and a tall, three-part tower on the west side.
Windows and Old Features
Many of the windows you see today were put in during the 1885-86 restoration. They are in a style called "Perpendicular," which means they have tall, narrow designs. Some windows are even older! The south window in the chancel is from the 1400s. The north window is from the 1200s. Inside the church, you can also find some very old features. There's a double piscina, which was a basin for washing sacred vessels. There's also a triple sedilia, which are seats for the clergy. Both of these are from the 1200s or 1300s.
The Churchyard
Expanding the Burial Ground
The area around the church, called the churchyard, was made bigger in 1884. The rector at the time, Rev. S. H. Archer, bought more land on the north side. He did this with help from his family. It was a special way to remember his late wife. The Bishop of Exeter, Frederick Temple, officially blessed this new ground on October 27, 1884.
