Welcome to Hemyock, Anonymous Tuesday, September 02 2025 @ 11:38 pm UTC
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 1600s and may be the reason why the present tower is not very high.
The church has had its dedication changed several times. In the 1400s it was St Mary's, after the reformation St. George was the patron saint, by the mid 1700s it was St. Peter's and it reverted to St. Mary's in the 1760s
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.
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 Canon Becky Totterdell
The Rectory, Hemyock, EX15 3RQ
01823 681520 or ucvmissionrector@gmail.com
Administrator: Khendra Porter (available Thursday mornings, 9.30am to 12.30pm)
07495 639826 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)
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
Becky and the ministry team invite all church members to join the PCCs in a Benefice away day on 8 Feb. We will be thinking about our calling as churches in this Benefice, especially about how we can reach out to our communities with the good news of God’s love for them.
At the end of the 24th November morning service at St Mary's church, Hemyock Mrs Valerie (Val) White was presented with a beautiful floral bouquet by Jenny Doble, a Churchwarden.Thanking Val for her 10 years service as Sacristan David Bawler, Churchwarden announced that following the retirement of Val the post would be taken over by Mrs Diana Cooper but appealed for anyone else who would be willing to be trained and stand in when needed.
The parish church of St Mary's Hemyock has held the service to welcome their newest Rector Rev Canon Rebecca (Becky) Totterdell to the Upper Culm Valley Mission Community. Rev Totterdell had previously ministered at Exeter Cathedral.The service taken by the Bishop of Crediton, The Rt Rev Jackie Searle saw a full church with over 130 attending.
Remaining unsettled with heavy rain overnight.
Largely dry and settled for many this evening with a few clear spells, before becoming overcast tonight as a band of heavy rain moves in from the southwest accompanied by strong gusty winds. Temperatures holding up. Minimum temperature 12 °C.
Widely wet and windy through the morning, with heavy, sometimes thundery spells of rain at times. Brighter skies developing by the afternoon bringing a mixture of sunshine and blustery showers. Maximum temperature 21 °C.
Scattered, blustery showers for many on Thursday, but some brighter spells too. More settled from Friday; mainly dry with some sunshine, though still rather breezy at times.
Updated:
Sourced from the Met Office