List of churches in South Hams facts for kids
South Hams is a beautiful area in Devon, England, known for its stunning coastline and countryside. It's also home to many churches, which are special buildings where people gather for worship and community events. This article will tell you about some of the churches you can find in South Hams.
Churches Still in Use
South Hams has about 102 churches that are still active today! That's a lot, meaning there's roughly one church for every 826 people living there. These churches belong to different Christian groups, like the Church of England, Roman Catholic, Methodist, and Baptist churches. They are found in many towns and villages across the area.
Most towns and villages in South Hams have at least one active church. For example, the town of Dartmouth has several churches, including St Clement, St Saviour, and St Petrox, which are all part of the Church of England. There's also a Roman Catholic church dedicated to St John the Baptist, a Baptist church, and the Flavel Church, which is a mix of Methodist and United Reformed Church.
Many churches in South Hams are very old, some even dating back to medieval times. Others are more modern, like St Cecilia in Woolwell, which started in the 1990s and meets in a primary school.
Here are a few interesting facts about some of the churches:
- The All Saints church in Moreleigh has a unique story. It was built by a local landowner as a way to say sorry for something he did – he accidentally killed the parish priest!
- The St Peter church in Ugborough is so grand that people sometimes call it the 'Cathedral of South Hams'.
- St James in North Huish (Avonwick) is a special kind of church called a 'proprietary chapel'. This means it's still owned by a family, the Cornish-Bowden family, even today.
These churches play an important role in their communities, offering places for worship, gatherings, and support.
Churches No Longer in Use
Sometimes, churches are no longer used for regular services. This might happen if there aren't enough people to attend, or if the building becomes too difficult to maintain. When a church is no longer used for worship, it is called "redundant" or "defunct."
In South Hams, one example of a church that is no longer active is St Mary, North Huish. This church was built in medieval times but stopped being used for regular services in 1993. It is now looked after by the Churches Conservation Trust, which helps to preserve important church buildings that are no longer needed for worship.
