COMBE MARTIN CHURCHES
Church of England: Exeter Diocese
Parish church of St Peter Ad Vincula
Combe Martin's parish church is one of the largest in the Exmoor area, reflecting the comparatively large size of the parish population. The tower is 99ft high and was built about 1490, probably by a travelling mason who also built the towers at Berrynarbor and Stoke near Hartland. There is a local saying about the towers: "Hartland for length, Berrynarbor for strength and Combe Martin for beauty",although sometimes Chittlehampton is substituted for Combe Martin and Stoke is what is meant by Hartland. The nave, north porch and north transept are also of this Perpendicular period. The chancel and south transept are earlier, being of Early English architecture.
The church is often closed when not in use but is well worth a visit to see the interior. Of particular interest is the painted screen dating from about 1500. Screens of this date are not unusual on Exmoor but this one is, as its panels are painted with pictures of saints. The beautifully carved top of the screen was added in 1912, as were the carvings on the choir stalls. The staircase that originally led to the rood loft top of the screen can be seen in the wall of the south transept. A new rood (a depiction of Calvary) has been added.
A south porch was added in 1725, about which time the wagon roofs were plastered over. These were restored in 1972 and the bosses painted. The chapel on the north aisle has a beautifully painted roof. Both north and south porches contain texts from the Bible finely lettered in the 18th century. The north aisle has a chapel with a wall brass to William Hancock, dated 1587 and an effigy of Judith Ivatt dated 1634.
One of the rectors was John Blackmore, grandfather of novellist RD Blackmore. He was incumbent from 1833 to 1842. The church was also associated with a novel: 'The Mighty Atom' by prolific Victorian religious writer Marie Corelli. James Norman, the sexton here, who featured as Reuben Dale in the novel, is buried near the lych gate.
Rector: The Rev Keith Wyer, Team Rector of the North Devon Coast Team
The Rectory, Rectory Road, Combe Martin, Ilfracombe, EX34 0NS
01271 883203
kgw@wyer.org
Catholic church: Diocese of Plymouth; Exeter and North East Devon Deanery
Parish church of St Mary
St. Mary's Catholic Church is in Castle Street, part of Combe Martin's long main street
Served from Ilfracombe by:
Rev. John Conroy (Priest in Charge)
Rev. Philip Waites (Deacon)
Address: The Presbytery, Runacleave Road, Ilfracombe, EX34 8AQ
Tel: 01271 863563
Service Times: Sunday Mass 9am
Baptist Church
Ebenezer Chapel
This is located in the High Street. It is now the only active Baptist church in the Devon part of Exmoor. It was built in 1851 through the generosity of John Winzer, who had been active at the Baptist Chapel at Brayford. Many Nonconformist Chapels were called 'Ebenezer'. The name comes from Samuel 7:12, in which Samuel erects a stone after a particularly successful set-to with the Philistines - calling the stone 'Ebenezer', which means "Thus far hast thou helped me." A schoolroom was added to the chapel in 1872 and there was a major refurbishment in 1886, since when there have been only minor changes.
Orthodox Church: Patriarchate of Moscow/ Diocese of Sourozh/The Parish of the Holy Prophet Elias
The Chapel of St Simeon and St Anna
The chapel is a room off the living room of the priest's house at 'Touchstone', Shute Lane. Contact 01271-883576 (www.devon.sourozh.org).
Services: Divine Liturgy 10.30am, third Sunday of month.
Methodist Church: Plymouth and Exeter District
Methodist Chapel
Methodist preachers came to Combe Martin from Barnstaple in the early 19th century. There were regular meetings in a hired room from 1808 and in 1840 a permanent chapel was built with the help of Cornish miners working at Combe Martin's silver mines. The present chapel and schoolroom dates from 1884.