Exeter 1850 Contents & Search

Allhallows Church, in Goldsmith street, is a small antique fabric, which was disused from 1720 till 1822, when it was re-opened for public worship, after being thoroughly repaired. It has a wooden belfry and one bell. Its rectory, valued in K.B. at £6. 4s. 7d., and in 1831 at £66, is in the gift of the Dean and Chapter, and incumbency of the Rev. T. Coldridge.

Allhallows-on-the-Walls is a handsome structure of perpendicular architecture, which was finished and consecrated in Sept. 1845, except the tower, which was not commenced till 1849, when the south window of the chancel was enriched with stained glass, in memory of the late Mr. and Mrs. Cornish. The roof is open, and supported by circular ribs; and the east window is of beautiful stained glass, representing the four Evangelists, &c. The communion plate was presented by Canon Rogers, and the altar-cloth was the gift of the Hon. Mrs. Ford. The total cost of the building was about £3500, and at the time of its erection the parish had been about a century without a church, the ruins of the old one, which stood in Fore street, being cleared away about 1777, when the present Exe Bridge, was built. The new church stands in Old Bartholomew Burial Ground, which was opened on St. Bartholomew's day, 1637, and was the principal place, of interment for the city till the opening of the New Cemetery, on the other side of the city wall, in 1837. The rectory, valued in K.B. at £5. 4s. 9½d., and in 1831 at only £19, is in the gift of the Dean and Chapter, and incumbency of the Rev. S.U.B. Lee, M.A. The tower is not yet completed.

Bedford Chapel, in the precinct called Bedford Circus, is a neat brick building, which was erected in 1831-'2, at the cost of £4400, of which £2000 was raised in £50 shares, and the remainder by voluntary contributions. The interior has three aisles, three galleries, and about 1000 sittings, of which 300 are free. The front has three entrances, and over the centre door is a portico, supported on Tuscan pillars. The bell hangs in a small turret. The perpetual curacy, valued at £136, is in the patronage of trustees, and incumbency of the Rev. W. Jackson, M.A.

St. David's Church occupies a beautiful situation on St. David's hill, in the northern suburbs of the city. The ancient church was pulled down in 1816, when the erection of the present fabric was commenced, but it was considerably enlarged in 1839. It is chiefly in the Roman style, with a Doric portico, and a round tower, containing six bells. It has a spacious burial ground; and its large parish includes the City and County Prisons, the Cavalry Barracks, Northernhay, the Railway Station, the manor of Duryards, and many neat houses. It is said to have been anciently a chapelry to Heavitree, and to have had a chapel near the river, dedicated to St. Clement. The benefice is a perpetual curacy, worth about £280 per annum.; but in 1850 it will be augmented with the great tithes, (£150 per ann.,) by gift of the Dean and Chapter. The latter are patrons, and the Rev. C.C. Bartholomew is the incumbent. Until recently, the Vicar of Heavitree was patron.

St. Edmund's Church, in Edmund street, on the western side of the city, was rebuilt in 1834, at the cost of £2000. It is a plain cemented structure, with a tower containing a fine peal of eight bells. It has a handsome stone altar screen, given by Lord Rolle. When the old bridge over the Exe was standing near it, the ancient church was commonly called St. Edmund on the Bridge; and in some deeds it is styled the Chantry on the Bridge. The rectory, valuK.B. at £. at £10. 6s. 8d., and in 1831 at £196, was formerly in the gift of the Corporation, but G. Hyde, Esq., is now patron, and the Rev. Owen Owen, M.A, incumbent.

St. John's Church, Fore street hill, is a very ancient cemented structure, the tower of which has a peal of six bells, and a clock with two faces projecting into the street. The interior was beautified and fitted with galleries in 1843, when the Church of St. George the Martyr was taken down for the improvement of South street, and its parish united with St. John's. Here are several neat monuments, some of which were removed from St. George's, as also were five of the bells. The rectory of St. John's, valued in K.B. at £18, and that of St. George'sK.B. at £in K.B. at £9. 13s. 8d., are now consolidated, and worth about £300 per annum. The Lord Chancellor. is patron, and the Rev. J.M. Collyns, M.A., incumbent.

St. John's Chapel belongs to St. John's Hospital, as afterwards noticed. The church service is performed in it twice every Sunday, and there is regular service every Sunday evening in the Chapel at Wynard's Hospital.

St. James' Church, in the north-eastern suburbs, has been made the mother church of a parochial district, separated from St. Sidwell's parish in 1838; but the privilege of solemnizing marriages, baptisms, and burials was not given to it till 1842; and its burial ground was not consecrated till 1846. Its district parish comprises about 4000 souls. It was consecrated as a chapel of ease on Nov. 26th, 1836, and was built at the cost of £3722, raised by subscription, except £500 given by the Church Building Society. It is in the modern Gothic style, and has 1200 sittings, of which 600 are free. The interior is neat, and the east window contains a large figure of St. James, in beautifully painted glass, given by Mrs. Wilkinson. The pulpit is richly carved, and is said to have been captured in a Spanish vessel, in the reign of Elizabeth. It was presented to the church by the Dean and Chapter. National Schools, for 250 children of this district parish, were built in 1845, at the cost of £778, of which £200 was granted by Government, and £150 was given by the National Society. The benefice is a perpetual curacy, in the patronage of the Vicar of Heavitree, and incumbency of the Rev. P. Carlyon, M.A, who derives his income from the pew rents and customary fees.

St. Kerrian's Church, in North street, is a small, ancient, dilapidated building, which has not been used for divine service during the present century. Its rectory is consolidated with that of St. Petrock, and the joint benefiK.B. at £alued in K.B. at £5. 18s. 6½d., and are now worth only about £150 per annum. The Dean and Chapter are patrons, and the Rev. Joseph Corfe, M.A., incumbent.

St. Lawrence's Church, in High street, is a neat plastered structure, with a tower and one bell. It was repaired and newly seated in 1847, at the cost of about £600. It has a handsomely carved oak screen, and a curious painted altar-piece, in the pseudo-classic style, with emblems of the Mosaic covenants. Over the principal entrance is a small statue of Queen Elizabeth, which formerly ornamented a conduit that stood in the middle of the street. Its parish had anciently two chapels, dedicated to St. Bartholomew and the Holy Trinity. The rectory, valued at £135, is in the patronage of the Lord Chancellor, and incumbency of the Rev. W.G. Heathman, B.A.

St. Martin's Church, in the Cathedral yard, is a small antique fabric, said to have been consecrated in 1665. It has a tower and one bell, and contains a few ancient monuments. Its parish had a chapel dedicated to St. Peter, but it was disused before 1265. The rectory, valued in K.B. at £8. 14s. 6d., and in 1831 at only £77, is in the patronage of the Dean and Chapter, and incumbency of the Rev. M. Tucker, M.A.

St. Mary Arches' Church, in the street to which it gives name, is a spacious edifice, with a tower and three bells. The nave and aisles are separated by massive pillars, evidently of great antiquity, but the building has undergone many repairs and alterations. The interior is neatly fitted up, and contains many handsome monuments, principally of the mayors of Exeter. The tomb of Thos. Walker, who died in 1628, has kneeling effigies of himself and wife. The rectory, valued in K.B. at £10, and in 1831 at £187, is in the patronage of the Bishop of Exeter, and incumbency of the Rev. J.J. Rowe.

St. Mary Major's Church, in the Cathedral yard, is a very ancient fabric, especially the tower, which is of Saxon origin. Over the north entrance is a small tablet, representing St. Lawrence in a state of Martyrdom, on a gridiron. The nave is separated from the chancel by a handsomely carved rood screen; and the front of the gallery is ornamented with round-headed arches, and a row of figures angels, &c. The church was re-seated in 1816, and contains numerous monumental inscriptions, both ancient and modern. The rectory, valued in K.B. at £15. 14s. 9 ½d., and in 1831 at £150, is in the gift of the Dean and Chapter, and incumbency of the Rev. J.F. Turner.

St. Mary Steps' Church is in West street, at the foot of Stepcote hill, adjoining the site of the West gate, through which the city was formerly entered by a flight of steps. It is a small ancient fabric, and in its tower is a curious clock, over the dial of which are three small figures ;- the centre one representing Henry VIII., in a sitting posture, bends forward every time the clock strikes; and the other two are in military costume, with javelins in their right hands, and in their left small hammers, with which they alternately strike the quarters on two small bells beneath their feet. These figures are vulgarly called Matthew the miller and his two sons, from the circumstance of an old miller, who formerly lived in the neighbourhood, and passed the clock punctually at stated times. There are four bells in the tower, and the church has a handsome pulpit, a very ancient font, and a neat altar piece. The rectory, valued in K.B. at £8. 6s. 8d., and in 1831 at £180, was in the gift of Dr. Carwithen, but is now in the patronage and incumbency of the Rev. Thomas A. Melhuish.

St. Olave's Church, in Fore street, is of great antiquity. It was appropriated by William the Conqueror to Battle Abbey, and the benefice being of small value, was many years without an incumbent, and the church shut up. Being in this state, the use of it was granted, after the edict of Nantes, to the French Refugees, many of whom settled here as cloth makers, &c. Divine service was performed here for their accommodation, in the French language, till 1758, when the church was shut up again, and the interior went to decay. After being thoroughly repaired, and enlarged by the addition of an adjoining building, the church was re-opened in 1815. The vaulted roof is supported by six massive Wars, which, like the tower, are evidently Saxon. The rectory, valued in K.B. at £7. 13s. 4d., and in 1832 at £92, is in the patronage of the Lord Chancellor, and incumbency of the Rev. C.R. Roper, M.A.

St Pancras' Church, in Pancras lane, is a small plain building, only 46½ feet by 10. It was shut up for many years, but after being repaired it was re-opened in 1830. On the floor are some memorials of the Kelly family. The rectory, valued at only £43, is in the gift of the Dean and Chapter, and is now enjoyed by the Rev. E.W.T. Chave, M.A.

St. Paul's Church, in Paul street, near the Cathedral yard, which is a handsome structure, was rebuilt in the latter part of the 17th century. It contains a fine painted window with a full length figure of St. Paul. It has also several handsome monuments, and an ancient oval font, of black marble, The tower has a clock and one bell. The rectory, valued in K.B. at £8. 2s. 6d., and in 1831 at £174, is in the gift of the Dean and Chapter, and incumbency of the Rev. R.B. Kinsman, M.A., who is also rural dean.

St. Petrock's Church, in High street, near the Cathedral yard, was rebuilt in 1829, and is so closely surrounded with houses that the only part of it visible from the street is the tower with its projecting clock. The sacramental plate is very superb, and comprises two cups dated 1572 and 1640, and two flagons, dated 1692. In the tower are six bells. The rectory is consolidated with that of St. Kerrian. St. Petrock was one of the early propagators of christianity, and gave name to Petrockstowe, in Devonshire.

St. Sidwell's Church stands without the Walls, in the north-eastern part of the city, and from its populous parish the new district parish of St. James, has been lately taken, as noticed at page 83. The original church was an ancient fabric, dedicated to St. Stativola, or Sidwell, a virgin, who is said to have been beheaded with a scythe, about the year 740, and to have been buried here. It was rebuilt in 1812 and '13, at the cost of more than £2200, except the tower, which was repaired and surmounted by a handsome octagonal spire, in 1823, at the cost of about £500. It is now a beautiful edifice in the pointed style, and in its lofty tower are eight musical bells, hung in 1768. The interior consists of a chancel, and a nave, with two side aisles, neatly pewed and having three large galleries. It will seat more than a thousand hearers, and the nave and aisles are separated by the clustered columns of the original church, supporting six arches, studded with rosettes. Each capital is divided into eight compartments, four containing angels supporting shields, and the other four small figures of St. Sidwell. The east window is enriched with a beautiful representation of the Ascension, in painted glass. The pulpit is richly carved, and supported by flying arches rising from four buttresses. The font is octagonal, and large enough for immersion. The organ is a fine toned instrument, and in the church are several handsome monuments. St. Sidwell's parish was anciently parcel of the parish of Heavitree, though it has always formed part of the county of the city of Exeter. It includes Hill's court, which was for many generations the seat of the Hill family, but is now a street with many neat houses. It also comprises all the handsome suburbs extending eastward from St. Sidwell street to the Workhouse, Polesloe Park, &c. In the church register are records of great ravages of the plague, in 1625, and an entry of the burial of Richard Wilkins, who was executed for witchcraft in 1610. The benefice is a perpetual curacy, valued in 1831 at £252. It is in the patronage of the Vicar of Heavitree, and incumbency of the Rev. Fras. Courtenay, M.A.

St. Stephen's Church, in High street, was a very ancient structure; but having been desecrated and made a garrison in 1657, it was rebuilt in 1664. The interior was completely altered in 1826, and has now a neat appearance. The tower has three bells, and is crowned by an octagon turret. The rectory, valued in K.B. at £7. 17s. 3½d., and in 1831 at only £85, is in the patronage of the Bishop of Exeter, and incumbency of the Rev. J.T. Toye, M.A.

Holy Trinity Church, in South street, adjoining the site of the South gate, was rebuilt in 1820, at the cost of £7295. It is a spacious Gothic fabric, with a turret containing a clock and bell. The body is separated from the entrance by a neat screen, and contains several handsome monuments. It has about 1000 sittings, of which nearly 100 are free. The rectory, valued in K.B. at £11. 6s. 4d., and in 1831 at £177, is in the gift of the Dean and Chapter, and is now enjoyed by the Rev. G.H.O. Shield, M.A.

Brian Randell, 24 Oct 1998