St Andrew's Church, Buckland Monachorum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Andrew's Church, Buckland Monachorum |
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St Andrew's Church, Buckland Monachorum
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 St Andrew's Church, Buckland Monachorum
Location in Devon
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| 50°29′42.8″N 4°7′48″W / 50.495222°N 4.13000°W | |
| Location | Buckland Monachorum |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Previous denomination | Roman Catholic |
| History | |
| Dedication | Saint Andrew |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade I listed |
| Designated | 21 March 1967 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Buckland Monachorum |
| Deanery | Tavistock |
| Archdeaconry | Plymouth |
| Diocese | Exeter |
| Province | Canterbury |
St Andrew's Church, Buckland Monachorum is a historic church in Buckland Monachorum, Devon, England. It is part of the Church of England and is considered a very important building. It has a special status called Grade I listed, which means it's protected because of its history and architecture.
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History of St Andrew's Church
This church is very old, dating back to the Middle Ages. A lot of it was rebuilt in the late 1400s. Imagine how much history these walls have seen!
Church Restoration in the 1800s
The church got a big makeover between 1868 and 1869. A man named Mr. H. Elliott, an architect from Plymouth, was in charge. During this time:
- An old balcony at the back of the church was removed.
- The roof was fixed up and made strong again.
- The old wooden benches were replaced with new ones made of oak.
- Some of the original medieval carvings on the ends of the benches were kept. New carvings were made to match the old style.
- The walls were plastered smoothly.
- The windows got new, clear glass.
- A beautiful new stained glass window was put in at the very front of the church. It shows a picture of the Good Shepherd.
The church was ready for services again on July 8, 1869.
Famous Monuments in the Drake Aisle
The church is also known for its special memorials in an area called the Drake aisle. These memorials honor important people from history.
- There are monuments for George Augustus Eliott, 1st Baron Heathfield (from 1795) and Sir Francis Henry Drake, 5th Baronet (from 1794). These were created by a famous sculptor named John Bacon Senior.
- Another memorial for Francis Augustus Eliott, 2nd Baron Heathfield was made by John Bacon Junior, who was John Bacon Senior's son.
- The memorial for Dame Eleanor Elliott Drake (who passed away in 1841) was made by another well-known sculptor, Richard Westmacott.
The Church Organ
The organ in St Andrew's Church was first put in back in 1849 by H.P. Dicker of Exeter. It was a gift from Sir Thomas Fuller-Eliott-Drake, a local important person. This organ was special because you could play it using a keyboard, or it could play music by itself using a barrel, like a giant music box!
In 1920, the organ was made bigger by a company called Hele & Co from Plymouth. They added a second keyboard, which made it more versatile. Over the years, the organ has been rebuilt and made even larger. Now, it has two keyboards and 24 "speaking stops," which are like different sets of pipes that make various sounds. You can find all the details about this organ in the National Pipe Organ Register, which keeps records of church organs.
Church Bells
The church tower holds a set of 8 bells. Five of these bells are very old, dating back to 1723. They were made by Christopher and John Pennington. The other three bells are newer, made in 1947 by a company called Gillett & Johnston. These bells ring out across the village.
