St Pancras Church, Exeter facts for kids

St Pancras Church is a small, old church right in the middle of the Guildhall Shopping Centre in Exeter. It's a bit hidden away! Most of the church was built a very long time ago, in the 1200s. But its special font, used for baptisms, is even older, from the 1000s. Many people think this church stands on the oldest Christian spot in Exeter. It's usually open during the week for visitors. English Heritage, a group that protects important buildings, calls it a Grade II* listed building. This means it's a very important historical place.

The Story of St Pancras Church

How Old Is It?

We don't know exactly when St Pancras Church was first built. It's named after Saint Pancras, which suggests it might have been built during the Anglo-Saxon period. Some old records even mentioned a Saxon-style archway inside. This arch was later removed during repairs. The church was first written about in 1191. However, most of the building you see today was constructed in the 13th century.

Changes Over Time

The church has been used and then left empty many times between 1658 and 1831. In 1831, the archway leading to the chancel (the part of the church near the altar) was taken down. A plain new one was put in its place. Later, a famous architect named John Loughborough Pearson worked on the church. He rebuilt the original style of the arch. New wooden benches, called pews, were also added for people to sit on.

In 1906, another nearby church, All Hallows, was pulled down to make way for a wider road. St Pancras Church then received some special items from All Hallows. These included a Jacobean pulpit (a raised stand where sermons are given) and old stone tablets remembering people.

Surviving Through Challenges

In the early 1900s, the Bishop of Exeter thought about closing St Pancras Church. He considered joining its parish with another one. But during the Second World War, many churches were bombed. St Pancras Church stayed open and welcomed people from those damaged churches. Because of this, it remained an active church. The Victorian pews that had been added were later removed.

In the 1930s, a house was built right up against the church. It even blocked out one of its windows! But in 1969, this house was removed. This happened because the Guildhall Shopping Centre was being built around the church, which sits a bit lower than the shops.

A Protected Building

In 1953, English Heritage officially gave St Pancras Church its Grade II* listed building status. This was because the church is a great example of a small medieval church in a town. It has managed to keep many of its original medieval features and decorations.

See also

• List of ecclesiastical restorations and alterations by J. L. Pearson