St Andrew's Church, Moretonhampstead facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Andrew's Church, Moretonhampstead |
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St Andrew's Church, Moretonhampstead
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 St Andrew's Church, Moretonhampstead
Location in Devon
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| 50°39′40.1″N 3°45′44.5″W / 50.661139°N 3.762361°W | |
| Location | Moretonhampstead |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| History | |
| Dedication | Saint Andrew |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade I listed |
| Designated | 23 August 1955 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Moretonhampstead |
| Deanery | Moreton |
| Archdeaconry | Totnes |
| Diocese | Exeter |
| Province | Canterbury |
St Andrew's Church, Moretonhampstead is a very old and important church in Devon, England. It is a Grade I listed building, which means it is a special historical place. It belongs to the Church of England.
Contents
Discovering St Andrew's Church History
The church has parts that are very old. Its tall tower was built in the early 1400s. The main part of the church, called the nave, and the side sections, called aisles, were added later in the 1400s.
Church Updates in the 1800s
The church was updated between 1856 and 1857. New wooden benches, called pews, were put in. An old wooden screen that separated the main part of the church from the altar area was taken out because it was in bad shape.
Major Renovations in the Early 1900s
More big changes happened between 1904 and 1905. The chancel, which is the area around the altar, was made longer by about 2.7 meters. This was to make space for a new organ. This organ was a gift from Mr. Tilby, who wanted to remember his wife.
A beautiful new stained glass window was also added. It was put in to remember William Henry Smith. A new screen was built for the chancel, looking similar to the old one that was removed. All the old seating was replaced with new oak pews. The wooden floor in the aisles was changed to fancy Minton tiles.
The old gallery at the back of the church was removed. The roof was also replaced with a special oak "wagon roof" design. The plaster was taken off the church walls, and a new central heating system was put in. The new altar was officially blessed by the Bishop of Exeter on April 6, 1905.
The Church Organ
The church's organ was put in by a company called Hele & Co from Plymouth in 1905. It cost £800, which was given as a gift to remember Pauline Eugenie Tilby. The organ was first played on Thursday, June 15, 1905, by Daniel Joseph Wood, who was the organist at Exeter Cathedral. An electric blower was added to the organ in 1946 to help it work.
Today, the organ has 3 keyboards and 34 different sounds it can make. You can find more details about this organ in the National Pipe Organ Register.
People Who Played the Organ
Many talented people have played the organ at St Andrew's Church over the years. Here are some of them:
- George Osborne Brown 1854 - 1860
- Miss E.A. Treleaven 1860 - 1867
- Mr. Rihill 1867 - around 1871
- Miss Clack ???? - 1876 (She was the daughter of the church's Rector)
- W. Sanders 1876 - 1877
- George Satterley 1877 - 1902
- A.E. Chapman 1902 - 1903 (He later became the organist at St Barnabas’ Church, Dartmouth)
- Miss Esther West
- A.W. Cooper 1906 - ???? (He used to be an organist at Lustleigh and St Saviour's Cathedral, Pietermaritzburg, in Natal)
- A. Theodore Sanger 1909 - 1913 (He later became the organist at Cathedral Church of the Redeemer in Calgary)
- W.R. Weaver 1914 - 1916
- Irene Chudleigh 1916 - 1924
- W.R. Weaver 1924 - 1932
- Mr. Cross around 1934
- Keith Hortop Late 1970s (approx) - 1986
- Henry Brinkworth 1986 - 2007
The Church Bells
The church tower holds a set of 8 bells. These bells were made by a company called Gillett & Johnston in 1922. The Bishop of Exeter officially blessed them on December 1, 1922.
