St Bridget's Church, Bridestowe

St Bridget's Church, Bridestowe
St Bridget's Church, viewed from the churchyard
St Bridget's Church, Bridestowe
50°41′08″N4°06′20″W / 50.685426°N 4.105569°W / 50.685426; -4.105569
OS grid reference	SX 51353 89430
Country	England
Denomination	Church of England
Churchmanship	Central churchmanship
Website	www.northmoorteam.org.uk/bridestowe-st-bridgets
History
Status	Operational
Dedication	Saint Bridget
Architecture
Heritage designation	Grade II* listed
Style	Perpendicular Gothic
Years built	13th & 15th century
Specifications
Capacity	150 seats
Number of towers	1
Materials	Granite
Bells	6
Administration
Province	Canterbury
Diocese	Exeter
Archdeaconry	Totnes
Parish	Bridestowe
Clergy
Vicar(s)	Revd Adrian Brook

St Bridget's Church in Bridestowe, Devon, is a parish church in the Church of England and one of the central buildings in the rural area on the northwestern edge of Dartmoor. It is a Grade II* listed building of medieval construction with restorations made in the 19th century. ^{[1] [2]}

Building

The church is mostly 13th and 15th century, with a west tower and some fragments of Norman work as well as Early English and Perpendicular styles. ^[3] It is dedicated to the Irish Saint Brigid of Kildare, Irish Bríd, who is depicted in one of the stained glass windows, and from whom the name of the surrounding village is derived. ^[4] The church's distinctive gateway is described in White's Directories as "a fine Norman arch supposed to be the remains of the original church". ^[5] Restorations were carried out in circa 1820, 1866, and 1890. ^[6]

Memorials

On the north wall of the chancel is a 1665 memorial of 1665 to Lady Honor Fortescue Calmady, wife of Sir Shilston Calmady and mother of Josias Calmady. ^{[7] [8]} The churchyard contains the grave of Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Wollocombe (1814). ^[9]

Current day

Regular services are only held on Sunday mornings. ^[10] A local flower festival is periodically held at the church. ^[11]

References

1. "Church of St Bridget". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
2. "Bridestowe: St Bridget". Church of England . Retrieved 1 December 2021.
3. Pevsner, N. (1952) South Devon. Penguin Books; p. 62
4. Watts, Victor (2010). The Cambridge Dictionary of English Place-names (1st paperback ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 85. ISBN   978-0-521-16855-7.
5. White, William (1878). History, Gazetteer and Directory of the County of Devon including the City of Exeter (2nd ed.). Sheffield.
6. Cresswell, Beatrix (1906). Notes on Devon Churches in the Deanery of Okehampton.
7. "1 Jonathan Prideaux, of Thuborough, Devon, esq, and son 2 Sir Shilston Calmady, kt". The National Archives (United Kingdom) . Retrieved 1 December 2021.
8. "CHURCH OF ST BRIDGET". Historic England . Retrieved 1 December 2021.
9. Lysons, Daniel; Lysons, Samuel. "Parishes: Bridestowe – Butterleigh". Magna Britannia: Volume 6, Devonshire (London, 1822): 69–92. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
10. "Bridestowe - St Bridget's". Northmoor Team Ministry. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
11. "Fabulous flower festival at St Bridget's Church in Bridestowe". Okehampton Times. 8 July 2016. Retrieved 1 December 2021.

External links

• St Bridget's Church, Bridestowe website