St Michael the Archangel's Church, Chagford facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Michael the Archangel Church, Chagford |
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| The Parish Church of Saint Michael the Archangel Chagford | |
St Michael the Archangel's Church, Chagford
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 St Michael the Archangel Church, Chagford
Location in Devon
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| 50°40′22″N 3°50′20″W / 50.67278°N 3.83889°W | |
| Location | Chagford |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Previous denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Churchmanship | Broad/high Church |
| History | |
| Dedication | Saint Michael the Archangel |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade I listed |
| Designated | 22 February 1967 |
| Specifications | |
| Spire height | 80 feet (24 m) |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Chagford |
| Deanery | Okehampton |
| Archdeaconry | Totnes |
| Diocese | Exeter |
| Province | Canterbury |
St Michael the Archangel's Church in Chagford, Devon, is a very old and important church. It's part of the Church of England and is listed as a Grade I building, which means it's a special historical place.
Contents
A Look Back: The Church's History
This church is from the Middle Ages, but it seems to have been completely rebuilt in the 1400s. Imagine a whole new church being built on the same spot!
In 1870, some changes were made. The galleries (like balconies inside the church) were taken out. To make up for the lost space, the north aisle (a side part of the church) was made longer. The church's organ was also moved and made bigger.
A beautiful stained glass window was put in the tower. It was made by a company called Ballantine from Edinburgh. This window was a special way to remember Mrs. John Northmore, who was the rector's sister. Also, new gas lighting was added to the church, making it much brighter inside!
Restoring the Tower
The church tower needed some work, so it was restored between 1914 and 1915. This big project cost about £800 at the time. During this restoration, all the church bells were recast, meaning they were melted down and made new again.
The Church Organ: A Musical Journey
The first time we hear about an organ in this church is in 1527. The Vicar (a church leader) bought an organ from Exeter Cathedral for £5, 6 shillings, and 3 pence. That might not sound like much today, but back then, it was worth about £5,000! In 1594, it was reported that this organ had 82 pipes.
In 1854, a new organ was put in by H.P. Dicker from Plymouth. This organ was made even bigger in 1870 when it was moved to the north aisle.
A completely new organ was installed in 1891 by Hele and Company of Plymouth. It was first used on Sunday, June 7, 1891. This organ has been looked after and restored by the same company in 1901 and 1956. Today, it has 3 manuals (keyboards) and 23 "speaking stops," which are like different sounds the organ can make. You can find more details about this organ in the National Pipe Organ Register.
Meet the Organists
Many talented people have played the organ at St Michael's Church over the years. Here are some of them:
- Thomas Leaman (1857 - 1865)
- Theodore Köberlein (1865 - 1866)
- Edward Moxhay Vinnicombe (1867 - 1869)
- George Hurrell (around 1874 - 1893) – He was blind!
- Edward Ellis Vinnicombe (1893 - 1901)
- E.A. Russell (around 1902)
- Percy Collings (1906 - 1923)
- H.A. Whitfield (1923 - 1929)
- S.C. Williams (1930 - around 1950s)
The Church Bells: Ringing Through Time
In 1553, a list of church items showed that St Michael's had five bells. There was also one bell in a nearby chapel called Southteyn.
On August 12, 1765, the Bishop of Exeter gave permission to melt down the five bells and recast them into six new ones. This work was done in 1766 by Thomas Bilbie of Cullompton. Later, in 1877, two more bells were added, making a total of eight bells that could be rung together in a "peal."
Today, the tower has a peal of 8 bells. They were cast (made) by John Taylor & Company of Loughborough in 1914, when the tower was being restored. These bells were put into the tower and officially dedicated on February 3, 1915.
