St Eustachius' Church, Tavistock

Last updated

St Eustachius' Church, Tavistock
St Eustachius' Church, Tavistock.jpg
St Eustachius' Church, Tavistock
Devon UK location map.svg
Red pog.svg
St Eustachius' Church, Tavistock
Location within Devon
50°32′58.7″N4°8′40.1″W / 50.549639°N 4.144472°W / 50.549639; -4.144472
Location5A Plymouth Road, Tavistock, Devon PL19 8AU
Country England
Denomination Church of England
Previous denomination Roman Catholic
History
Dedication Saint Eustace
Architecture
Heritage designationGrade II* listed [1]
Designated7 September 1951
Administration
Province Canterbury
Diocese Exeter
Archdeaconry Plymouth
Deanery Tavistock [2]
Parish Tavistock

St Eustachius' Church, Tavistock is a Grade II* listed parish church in the Church of England Diocese of Exeter in Tavistock, Devon. [3]

Contents

History

The church was established on this site as early as 1193 but certainly by 1265. Abbot Robert Champeaux of Tavistock Abbey rebuilt it in 1318. There was further building work in 1352 and 1380..

It was largely rebuilt in the 15th century when a new chancel was added at the east end. The south aisle was added between 1445 and 1447 as a bequest from Constance Coffyn.

There was a major restoration between 1844 and 1845 by the architect John Hayward when the Caen stone pulpit by Knight of Exeter, a new reading desk, an oak organ screen and carved pew ends were added. The gallery was removed. A new organ bay in the north aisle was added, along with vestries south of the chancel. It reopened for worship on 26 June 1845. [4]

In 1896 the font was moved to the west end of the south aisle.

Another restoration was undertaken in 1902–03. The choir stalls were removed from the chancel and new marble flooring was installed. The nave and aisles were re-floored and the roofs were overhauled when rubs and wall plates were made good, and new figures of angels restored to the positions occupied previously by similar figures. New brass lighting pendants were suspended from the roof and the seating was re-spaced. The contractor was J.A. Dennis of Tavistock, and the architect George Fellowes Prynne. [5]

The new reredos with riddels (curtains) to the design of A.S. Parker was carved by J.R. Hunt and dedicated on 19 May 1929. [6]

Vicars

Organ

The organ case The pipe organ in St Eustachius' Church, Tavistock.jpg
The organ case

The first mention of an organ is in 1538/9 when it was noted that repairs were needed. By the 1790s there was a barrel organ in a gallery. In 1802 this was replaced, and the 1802 organ was replaced in 1825.

The current organ was built by J.W. Walker and Sons. It was opened by Samuel Sebastian Wesley on 25 June 1846. [9]

The carved statues on the organ case were added in 1879. There were later modifications and additions by Hele and Company of Plymouth and Lance Foy which has resulted in a three manual organ with 51 stops. A specification of the organ can be found in the National Pipe Organ Register. [10]

Organists

Initially the salary of the organist was funded by the Duke of Bedford, but by 1875 the salary had reached £61 10s per annum (equivalent to £6,200in 2021) [11] and Francis Russell, 9th Duke of Bedford decided it was time for the congregation to fund it. [12] At the time, the pew rents generated £120 per annum, with expenses of running the church at £118 per annum.

Bells

The tower contains a peal of 10 bells [17] The eight bells of 1925 by John Taylor and Company of Loughborough were expanded to 10 in 1998 by the addition of two new bells by the same founder.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tavistock</span> Town in Devon, England

Tavistock is an ancient stannary and market town within West Devon, England. It is situated on the River Tavy from which its name derives. At the 2011 census the three electoral wards had a population of 13,028. It traces its recorded history back to at least 961 when Tavistock Abbey, whose ruins lie in the centre of the town, was founded. Its most famous son is Sir Francis Drake.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">All Saints' Church, Bakewell</span> Church in Derbyshire, England

All Saints' Church, Bakewell, is the parish church of Bakewell, Derbyshire, England. It is a Grade I listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Holy Trinity Church, Leicester</span> Church in Leicester, England

Holy Trinity Church is an Anglican parish church in Leicester, England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Mary's Church, Selly Oak</span> Church in Birmingham, England

St. Mary's Church, Selly Oak is a Church of England parish church in Selly Oak, Birmingham, England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Holy Trinity Church, Lenton</span> Church

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St James' Church, Louth</span> Church in Lincolnshire, England

St James' Church, Louth is the Anglican parish church of Louth in Lincolnshire, England. It is notable for having the third tallest spire in the whole of the United Kingdom. The church was the site of the Lincolnshire Rising, starting in October 1537 and led by the vicar, who was drawn and quartered for his actions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Peter's Church, Radford</span> Church

St Peter's Church, Radford is an Anglican parish church in Radford, Nottingham, located at 171 Hartley Road. It is a Grade II listed building as being of special architectural or historic interest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St George's Church, Edgbaston</span> Church

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Peter's Church, Derby</span> Church in Derbyshire, England

St Peter's in the City is a Church of England parish church in the city of Derby, Derbyshire, England. It is one of Derby's city centre churches which is in full use for worship. The church building dates from the 11th century. The tower has a peal of eight bells, which are rung before the Sunday morning services.

St Mark's Church, Nottingham, was a Church of England church in Nottingham, UK, between 1856 and 1958. The section of Huntingdon Street where the church was located was formerly called Windsor Street.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Mary's Church, Totnes</span> Church in Totnes, England

St Mary's Church, Totnes is a Grade I listed parish church in the Church of England Diocese of Exeter in Totnes, Devon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Mary and All Saints' Church, Kidderminster</span> Church in Kidderminster, England

St Mary and All Saints’ Church, Kidderminster is a Grade I listed Major Parish Church in the Church of England in Kidderminster, Worcestershire, England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Paul's Church, Truro</span> Church in Cornwall, England

St Paul's Church, Truro is a Grade II listed former parish church in the Church of England Diocese of Truro and in Truro, Cornwall.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Mary Magdalene's Church, Launceston</span> Church in Launceston, England

St Mary Magdalene's Church, Launceston is a Grade I listed parish church in the Church of England in Launceston, Cornwall. It is unusual for its carvings; the entire exterior of the original part of the church is built of carved granite blocks. The church is dedicated to Jesus' companion, Mary Magdalene.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Gwinear's Church, Gwinear</span> Church in Cornwall, England

St Gwinear's Church, Gwinear is a Grade I listed church in the Church of England in Gwinear, Cornwall.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Holy Trinity Church, Gidleigh</span> Church in Gidleigh, England

Holy Trinity Church, Gidleigh dates from the late 15th-century, and is a Grade I listed parish church in the Church of England Diocese of Exeter in Gidleigh, Devon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Michael the Archangel's Church, Chagford</span> Church in Chagford, England

St Michael the Archangel's Church, Chagford is a Grade I listed parish church in the Church of England Diocese of Exeter in Chagford, Devon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Andrew's Church, Moretonhampstead</span> Church in Moretonhampstead, England

St Andrew's Church, Moretonhampstead is a Grade I listed parish church in the Church of England Diocese of Exeter in Moretonhampstead, Devon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Andrew's Church, Buckland Monachorum</span> Church in Buckland Monachorum, England

St Andrew's Church, Buckland Monachorum is a Grade I listed parish church in the Church of England Diocese of Exeter in Buckland Monachorum, Devon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St John's Church, Torquay</span> Church in Torquay, England

The Church of St John the Apostle, Torquay, is a Grade I listed parish church in the Church of England Diocese of Exeter on Montpellier Road in Torquay, Devon.

References

  1. Historic England. "Church of St Eustachius (Grade II*) (1326157)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 27 September 2019.
  2. "Tavistock, St Eustachius". A Church Near You. The Church of England. Retrieved 27 September 2019.
  3. Pevsner, Nikolaus (1952). The Buildings of England. South Devon. Penguin Books. p. 275.
  4. "Tavistock". Dorset County Chronicle. England. 26 June 1845. Retrieved 27 September 2019 via British Newspaper Archive.
  5. "Reopening of Tavistock Church". Exeter and Plymouth Gazette. England. 29 June 1903. Retrieved 27 September 2019 via British Newspaper Archive.
  6. "Tavistock Church". Western Morning News. England. 20 May 1929. Retrieved 27 September 2019 via British Newspaper Archive.
  7. "The New Vicar of Tavistock". Tavistock Gazette. England. 15 November 1872. Retrieved 27 September 2019 via British Newspaper Archive.
  8. "Tavistock Vicar". Western Morning News. England. 24 August 1946. Retrieved 27 September 2019 via British Newspaper Archive.
  9. "Tavistock". Western Times. England. 4 July 1846. Retrieved 27 September 2019 via British Newspaper Archive.
  10. "NPOR [C01168]". National Pipe Organ Register . British Institute of Organ Studies . Retrieved 27 September 2019.
  11. UK Retail Price Index inflation figures are based on data from Clark, Gregory (2017). "The Annual RPI and Average Earnings for Britain, 1209 to Present (New Series)". MeasuringWorth. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
  12. "The Duke of Bedford and the Organist of Tavistock Church". Western Morning News. England. 30 April 1875. Retrieved 27 September 2019 via British Newspaper Archive.
  13. "Devonshire". Dorset County Chronicle. England. 16 April 1846. Retrieved 27 September 2019 via British Newspaper Archive.
  14. "Local and District News". Tavistock Gazette. England. 28 September 1877. Retrieved 27 September 2019 via British Newspaper Archive.
  15. "Tavistock Church". Tavistock Gazette. England. 21 June 1878. Retrieved 27 September 2019 via British Newspaper Archive.
  16. "Obituary". Western Morning News. England. 10 April 1942. Retrieved 27 September 2019 via British Newspaper Archive.
  17. "Tavistock S Eustachius". Dove's Guide for Church Bell Ringers . Dovemaster. 23 July 2010. Retrieved 27 September 2019.