All Saints Church, Huntsham
| All Saints Church, Huntsham | |
|---|---|
|
All Saints Church, Huntsham | |
| 50°58′30″N 3°25′26″W / 50.97500°N 3.42389°WCoordinates: 50°58′30″N 3°25′26″W / 50.97500°N 3.42389°W | |
| Location | Huntsham, Devon |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Website | hukeleymissioncommunity.org |
| History | |
| Founded | Tower circa 14th Century |
| Consecrated | 15 June 1336[1] |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Benjamin Ferrey (rebuild 1854–56) |
| Specifications | |
| Height | 60 feet (18 m) |
| Bells | 8 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Huntsham |
| Deanery | Tiverton and Cullompton |
| Archdeaconry | Exeter |
| Diocese | Diocese of Exeter |
| Clergy | |
| Rector | The Revd Kevin Chandra |
All Saints Church, Huntsham is a Grade II* listed parish church in the Church of England.[2] It sits in the small village of Huntsham approximately 5.8 miles (9.3 km) to the north-east of Tiverton. It is part of the Hukeley Mission group of parishes which also includes St Michael & All Angels in Bampton, St Peters in Clayhanger, St Petrock's in Petton and St George's in Morebath.[3]
History
Records indicate that Huntsham Church was one of several consecrated on 15 June 1336 and extended in 1430, diocesan registers state the first rector was Roger de Respremme in 1263.[4] The register which dates from 1558 records that in 1666 a donation of £2 0s 3d was sent by the parish for relief of the Great Fire of London.[5]
By 1850 the church was described by White’s Directory as an ancient ivy-mantled structure in terminal decay due to many years of neglect by the estates owner Rev. Edward Berkeley Troyte. Living next door at Huntsham Court the Rev Troyte was known locally as “the sporting parson” and said to keep traps and snares hidden in the church.[6][7]
His successor in 1852, Arthur Troyte, wasted no time in setting about the restoration of the church and within six months had employed Benjamin Ferrey to completely rebuild it between 1854-56,[8] as it stands today only the lower section of the church tower remains from the 14th century.[9] Troyte was a high church patron who designed some of the details himself taking an active involvement in the rebuilding not only of All Saints but other churches in the Diocese. He ensured that only the finest materials were used with seasoned oak, Ham Hill stone, Maws encaustic floor tiles and stained glass by Wailes. As part of the work the churchyard was also enlarged and a lychgate built. [10][11] Troyte also undertook to pay for the work personally, raising £500 for the project by selling 1,000 oak trees to the navy in Plymouth.
When Arthur’s wife Fanny died only two months before the restoration was completed in November 1856 the parishioners gave a richly decorated octagonal font of Caen stone in her memory, similarly the candelabrum which hangs in the nave was given in Arthur's memory when he died in 1857.[12] Fanny and Arthur's graves in the churchyard are marked by Grade II listed iron crosses with the letters F and A.[13] A full account of the rebuilding of Huntsham is given in the Transactions of the Exeter Diocesan Architectural Society.[14]
Arthur Troyte's son Charles Troyte continued to make improvements to the church with the addition of the north aisle in 1871 and greatly increasing the number of bells. Firstly in 1866 he added three new bells to make a ring of six, he further augmented the ring to eight bells in 1874 to allow the ringing of a full peal of 5,000 true and complete changes without repetition. This was achieved on 2 February 1875 when the first full peal of 5040 Grandsire Triples was conducted by John Acland Troyte, a feat which a plaque in the ringing chamber records. In 1872 Charles Troyte wrote "Change Ringing"[15] one of the standard text books on bell ringing which long after his death contributed indirectly to English literature when Dorothy L. Sayers found a copy in the bargain box of a second-hand bookshop, taking it home she was inspired to write 'The Nine Tailors'.[16]
Charles Troyte's son was the decorated soldier and MP for Tiverton Sir Gilbert Acland-Troyte.[17][18][19][20] His grave like those of his father and grandfather lie in the churchyard.
The bell ringing tradition at Huntsham continues today with All Saints being used for extended practice by The Troyte Ringing Centre thanks to its sound controlled tower.[21]
Organ
According to the National Pipe Organ Register, the church organ is by Hele & Co.[22] Dating from 1896, the painted decoration on the pipes is in the memory of Charles Troyte who died that year.[23]
Clock
The clock which sits on the east wall of the tower was supplied by the renowned Messrs Smith and Son of Derby in 1912, it was paid for by a collection of £34. It strikes on the hour and prior to being made electric some years ago it would require winding on a weekly basis.[24]
Clergy
The following list of clergy has been derived from two sources. Pre-1700 clergy are listed in the 1846 Monasticon Dioecesis Exoniensis,[25] with post-1700 clergy listed in a local reference, Old Parsonage – a brief history.[26]
| * Roger de Resprenne 1263–1278 | * Edward B Troyte 1796–1852 |
| * Sir Walter de Bantane 1278 | * George Watson 1813–1818 |
| * William de Trehunsy 1308 | * H Barker 1818–1827 |
| * William de Carnadone 1340 | * J Wills 1827–1830 |
| * Sir John Willesden 1418 | * Peter Tucker 1832–1835 |
| * Sir Walter Clutterville 1425 | * Channon? Holt 1836 |
| * Sir John French 1429 | * Francis D Seymour 1835–1852 |
| * Sir William Kyrke 1434 | * Robert Dunn 1854–1887 |
| * Sir Thomas Foxe | * Philip C Rossiter 1887–1890 |
| * Sir Thomas Whiplynge 1438 | * George Cruddas 1890–1894 |
| * Sir John Chivelere 1439 | * Giffard T Nash 1894–1896 |
| * Thomas Ley 1439–1444 | * AR Hudson 1898–1924 |
| * Sir Jon Baker 1444 | * AC Keene 1921–1931 |
| * Sir Geoffrey Motte 1449 | * FN Bird 1931–1933 |
| * Sir Simon Halsanger 1453 | * RM Henderson 1933–1936 |
| * Henry Downe 1574 | * Charles Lane 1936–1947 |
| * Thomas Seale 1588–1629 | * J Jones 1947–1957 |
| * Edward Seale 1629–1638 | * E Hughes 1957–1962 |
| * John Padfield 1638–1656 | * W Haythornthwaite 1962–1966 |
| * Benedict Ball 1663 | * Govier (visiting) 1966–1968 |
| * John Mayper 1675 | * KR Coath 1968–1976 |
| * Francis Durbrow 1693 | * Don M Clarridge 1977–1983 |
| * Francis Foort 1725–1761 | * M Boyes 1983–1993 |
| * William Milton 1756 | * K Gale 1993–1999 |
| * Tristram Whitter 1767–1771 | * J Stone 1999–? |
| * Eardley Pearse 1785 | * Kevin Chandra 2015– |
Summerhouse
Approximately 100 metres to the north west of the church is a small summerhouse in the woods constructed from medieval material from the church, during the works of either 1854 or 1871 mentioned above. According to the listing detail it has a stone outside rear wall partly of cob, reused stone tracery to the front and left, and a monopitch plain tile roof made from part of the original Medieval wagon roof structure.[27]
References
- ↑ George Oliver (1846). Monasticon Dioecesis Exoniensis.
- ↑ Pevsner & Cherry (1989). The Buildings of England: Devon. Second Edition. p. 497.
- ↑ "Locations". Hukeley Mission Community website.
- ↑ George Oliver (1846). Monasticon Dioecesis Exoniensis.
- ↑ David Wall (2005). The Huntsham Book.
- ↑ White's Devonshire Directory. 1850.
- ↑ David Wall (2005). The Huntsham Book.
- ↑ David Wall (2005). The Huntsham Book.
- ↑ "Church of All Saints, Huntsham". BritishListedBuildings.co.uk.
- ↑ "Lychgate to Churchyard, Huntsham". BritishListedBuildings.co.uk.
- ↑ David Wall (2005). The Huntsham Book.
- ↑ David Wall (2005). The Huntsham Book.
- ↑ "Group of 4 Iron Troyte Grave Markers About 9 Metres South West of the Porch of the Church of All Saints, Huntsham". BritishListedBuildings.co.uk.
- ↑ Hughes, J.R. (1861). Transactions of the Exeter Diocesan Architectural Society VI. pp. 220–230.
- ↑ Troyte, Charles Arthur William (1872). Change Ringing: An Introduction to the Early Stages of the Art of Church Or Hand Bell Ringing for the Use of Beginners (2nd ed.). Exeter: J. Masters H. S. Eland.
- ↑ "Huntsham – History of Troyte Family" (PDF). GENUKI.
- ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 29438. p. 571. 11 January 1916. Retrieved 12 August 2009.
- ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 30111. p. 5459. 1 June 1917. Retrieved 12 August 2009.
- ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 31109. p. 312. 3 January 1919. Retrieved 12 August 2009.
- ↑ "Lieut-Colonel Sir Gilbert Acland-Troyte". TheyWorkForYou. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
- ↑ "Troyte Ringing Centre home page". Troyte Ringing Centre website.
- ↑ "The National Pipe Organ Register – Devon Huntsham, All Saints". The National Pipe Organ Register.
- ↑ David Wall (2005). The Huntsham Book.
- ↑ David Wall (2005). The Huntsham Book.
- ↑ George Oliver (1846). Monasticon Dioecesis Exoniensis.
- ↑ Peter Thompson and Roy Arnott. Old Parsonage – a brief history.
- ↑ "Pavilion About 110 Metres West South West of Huntsham Court, Huntsham". BritishListedBuildings.co.uk.