Shebbear Contents & Search

Between 1908 and 1916, John Stabb, an ecclesiologist and photographer who lived in Torquay, published three volumes of Some Old Devon Churches and one of Devon Church Antiquities. A projected second volume of the latter, regarded by Stabb himself as a complement to the former, did not materialize because of his untimely death on August 2nd 1917, aged 52. Collectively, Stabb's four volumes present descriptions of 261 Devon churches and their antiquities.

SHEBBEAR., St. Michael. The church [plate 203a] consists of chancel, nave, south aisle, south porch (with sundial), and west tower with six bells. There is a piscina on the south side of the altar. On the north wall are two slate slabs, one with the following inscription:-

The second inscription commemorates their children, Francis second son, February 13th 1671, the only daughter Mary Perken, died February 3rd 1692; and other members of the family.

The chancel is divided from the aisle chapel by two arches, the nave from aisle by four Early English arches. There is a piscina by the chancel arch, used before the present chancel was added to the church. Over the piscina is a board with the following inscription:- Under the seats in this alley are deposited the remains of Dorothy the late wife of William Hoskin of Allacott in this Parish Esq:. She departed this life the 20th day of August 1767, aged 75, also William Hoskin Esq:, he was buried here October the 15th 1779, aged 83.

By the priest's door in the aisle is a slate with an inscription in memory of members of the Fortescue family dating from 1796 to 1831. The east aisle window is in memory of Thomas and Betty Balkwill of the parish, dated 1910. The chancel window is in memory of the Rev. Peter O. Foulkes and in commemoration of Queen Victoria's [Golden] Jubilee, 1887. The pulpit [plate 203b] is well carved, and the arch of the south porch has the beak head carving [plate 203c]. Beneath an arch in the south aisle wall is the carved recumbent effigy of a female with close head-dress, veil, and flowing dress and cloak. In the tower is the following inscription:- In Memory of the Revd. Thomas Northcote, Master of Arts, and late Vicar of this Parish who departed this life June 25th 1714; aged 26 and lies here right before this stone.

In the vestry at the west end of the aisle there is a stone inscribed as follows:-

"Within this Bed of Dusy sleeps a Brother
Who Greving in one head, Joyed in another
That he exchanged for This, and now on High
Advanced by the Head lives ne're to die
Earth made him Red, ye water made him Browne
Blood made him white, this colour wonne ye Crowne
He liv'd so just with men that his name had
No more than one small syllable of bad
This Cock crows Hallelujahs and shall sing
Endless Hosannas to the Eternal King
Let not young saints old Devils mortals scare
Rare fruits soone pluckt young saints soon glorious are."

Since I visited the church the east window of the aisle has been renewed and filled with glass representing the Crucifixion. The seven seats facing north have been removed, turned round, and a beautiful Lady Chapel created. The window is the gift of Mr. J. D. Prior of Birmingham in memory of the Balkwill family.

Some of the epitaphs at Shebbear are as follows:-

"This monumental stone will show
Where lies an honest man
Let Monarchs who are laid as low
Rise higher if they can."

"Virtuous Persons when they die
do leave a blessed Memory
For though they die their Names survive
and live tho' they are not alive
Tho' cruel Death their Bodies slay
We cannot takes their lives away
For he who came their lives to save
Will grant them Life beyond the Grave
O, then be virtuous that you may
live when your mortal lives decay."

The registers date from 1576.

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Last updated: 13 Jul 2007 - Brian Randell