A Village on the Blackdown Hills
Welcome to Hemyock Thursday, July 18 2019 @ 04:39 pm BST
Hemyock Parish Church occupies a central position in the village, alongside Hemyock Castle. Viewed from the main gate, the tower, the clock and the sundial may be seen, together with part of the Castle and our two very ancient yew trees. The piers that support the gates are of interest too, the stones from which they were built are "whetstone", dug on the Blackdown Hills, and traditionally used for sharpening scythes and hooks. The church is built of local flints and cherts.
The first written record dates from the year 1268, but it is obvious that parts of the building are much older. Remains of Norman arches may be seen in the interior walls of the tower and it would appear that the first church on the site was cruciform in shape with the tower at the centre. Originally the church had a spire on top of the tower, but it was removed in the late 1600’s and may be the reason why the present tower is not very high.
The church has had its dedication changed several times. In the 1400’s it was St Mary’s, after the reformation St. George was the patron saint, by the mid 1700’s it was St. Peter’s and it reverted to St. Mary’s in the 1760’s
Inside the building, the bowl of the font dates back to 1200. The southern aisle was formally a chantry dedicated to St. Katherine. On the west wall are the lists of the village charities, together with a list of the “Dog Whippers”.
The Church is an interesting well-maintained building, in a very socially active and friendly village, it is well worth a visit.
Brian Clist
for more information visit our website
See the Friends of St Mary's pages for more information about the Friends.
Contact Information
Priest in Charge: The Reverend David Burton
The Rectory, Hemyock, EX15 3RQ
01823 681029 or upperculmrector@gmail.com
Administrator: Helen Lang (available Tuesdays & Thursdays mornings 9.30am to 12.30pm)
01823 681 297 or ucvmission@gmail.com
Church Wardens: David Bawler (01823 680352) and Jenny Doble (01823 680174)
Ringers: Mrs L Holway (01823 680708)
Secretary: Brian Samuels (01823 664729)
Reader: David Palmer (01823 680467)
Church Rooms
St Mary's Church rooms can be hired for parties or regular bookings.
If interested please contact Janice Bawler 01823 680352. jbawler1947@hotmail.co.uk
Private Functions only £8 per hour or Regular Bookings £5.50 per hour
The Rectory, Hemyock, Devon, EX15 3RQ
As part of the 750 year celebration at St Mary's a concert is to be held on Sunday 5th November at 3pm featuring the church choir and guest organist Nigel Atkinson.
The free concert will featured music from 9 centuries and be followed by refreshments.
Retiring donations will be for the Friends of St Mary's.
The Annual St Mary's Summer Fair and Scout's Open Afternoon
On Sunday 3rd July the Friends of St Mary's will welcome Michael Farley to the Parish church for an afternoons entertainment when he will play and explain some of the workings of the church organ.
There is no admission charge but a retiring collection. Tea and cake will be available and the event will start at 3pm - all are welcome
St Mary's need to raise around £40,000 to to install a toilet and carry out various other work at the parish church. You may have noticed that there are 3 flowering loo pans outside of the church and these have now been photographed and the picture turned into a postcard. They will be on sale at the Charity and coffee shop and are in the church - 50p each. Bulk orders with discount from Ron White.
This Saturday (11) the annual church fete and Scout open afternoon will be held at the Recreation Field ( next to Parish Hall) from 2-5pm
The event will be opened by DR. DONALD McLINTOCK
Stalls, teas, bouncy castle,bar, face painting, BBQ and lots of Scouting activities on offer - something for all the family
This coming Sunday July 5th - 10.30a.m. bring your favourite toy to St Mary's church for a short service to include songs, craft, refreshments and to help look for the missing sheep - whatever your age do join us ......... and don't forget your toy!
This Sunday, 10th May the church will celebrate Rogation. Starting at the earlier time of 10.30am the service will include hymns, readings and prayers as the congregation walk around the perimiter of the building and along St Catherine's stream.
A special informal afternoon service will take place on Sunday 17th May as part of Christian Aid week. The service will start at 3pm and be followed by tea and cake. Please come and join us
Following the horrendous devastation left by the earthquake in Nepal St Mary's Church are organising an appeal to pay for a Shelterbox. The Church Council are to donate £100 and a retiring collection will be taken at services for 3 weeks. If you would like to make a contribution to this appeal but are unable to attend a service please contact David Bawler (07773579809) or leave at 4 South View ( at the bottom of the Recreation Field). The more we raise the more Shelterboxes can be purchased. Please support.
A glorious afternoon spent at Hemyock Parish church for a service of thanksgiving when a new oak/glazed porch door,wooden churchyard seats and trumpet organ stop were dedicated by the Bishop of Crediton. Cream teas were served after the service. Many past church members and
church friends had travelled from as far afield as Exmouth, Berkshire, Dorset,Exeter, Plymouth, Warwickshire and Shropshire joining those from the more local area and parishioners as friendships were remembered and renewed. Long standing residents may remember some folk who had ties with the church a number of years ago these included Margaret and David Llewellyn -Jones. Ron Cork, Ruth and Judith Hannaford, Ann and Sue Matthews, Ann Turner and John Northam who had all travelled some distance to be at the service
Donkeys will lead the procession through the village this coming Sunday leaving the Parish Hall at 10.30am to walk to the Parish Church for the Palm Sunday service . All are invited to join. The service will include a dramatised reading.
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