HISTORY

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" background="043015a3.jpg"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>S. John the Evangelist, Bovey Tracey, with S. Catherine's Heathfield.</B></FONT><B>    </B><B> |     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="S. John the Evangelist, Bovey Tracey, wi"><B>home</B></A></div> <div> <B>HISTORY</B>   |   <A HREF="id18.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="SERVICES.">SERVICES.</A>   |   <A HREF="news.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="NEWS">NEWS</A>   |   <A HREF="id19.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="HOLIDAY MAKERS.">HOLIDAY MAKERS.</A>   |   <A HREF="id20.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="DIARY">DIARY</A>   |   <A HREF="id21.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="MAGAZINE">MAGAZINE</A>   |   <A HREF="id24.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="EVENTS 1">EVENTS 1</A>   |   <A HREF="id25.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="EVENTS 2">EVENTS 2</A>   |   <A HREF="id26.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="EVENTS 3">EVENTS 3</A>   |   <A HREF="id27.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="EVENTS ARCHIVE">EVENTS ARCHIVE</A>   |   <A HREF="id28.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="EVENT ARCHIVE 2">EVENT ARCHIVE 2</A>   |   <A HREF="id29.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="GSS">GSS</A>   |   <A HREF="id31.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="S. CATHERINES SCHOOL">S. CATHERINE'S SCHOOL</A>   |   <A HREF="id30.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="S. CATHERINES OLD NEWSLETTERS.">S. CATHERINE'S OLD NEWSLETTERS.</A>   |   <A HREF="tap_into_faith.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="TAP INTO FAITH">TAP INTO FAITH</A>   |   <A HREF="id32.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="FIND US">FIND US</A>   |   <A HREF="id33.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="LINKS">LINKS</A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>T</B></div> <div> <IMG SRC="07dc80b0.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="267" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>The Mosaics by </B></div> <div> <B>Salviati.</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <bR> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=390 width="100%" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <bR> <div> <I><B><U>History.</U></B></I></div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B><U>S. John's and S. Catherine's</U></B><B><U> </U></B></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="058d35e0.jpg" border=0 width="467" height="350" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div>                                                                                                            Photo Les Haines<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B><U>S.John's</U></B></div> <bR> <div> <B><U>THE BEGINNING</U></B></div> <div> <B>In 1849 the Reverend Charles Leslie Courtenay was appointed Vicar of Bovey Tracey. This was the year of his marrage to Lady Caroline Summers, who was the daughter of the Earl Summers and a Maid of Honour to Queen Victoria.</B> </div> <div> <B>Shortly after his arrival Father Courtenay not only decided to build a new Vicarage, but also a new Church. This Church to be dedicated to St, John the Evangelist, was to serve as a Chapel of Ease to the Parish Church of Ss. Peter, Paul & Thomas. (Photo below)</B> </div> <div> <IMG SRC="05985640.jpg" border=0 width="133" height="100" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> © 2006 All Rights Reserved. photo by Les Haines.</div> <bR> <div> <B>A piece of land was obtained on the 'Heath' for this purpose.</B> </div> <div> <B>A Trust was formed by the 10th Earl of Devon with the consent of the Earl Fortescue and two other gentlemen, and Plans were drawn by Mr. S. Carpenter, who was responsible for the designing of many Tractarian Churches. The Builder was Mr. Richard Locke of Bovey Tracey.</B></div> <div> <B>On 26th September 1851 the site for the Clergy House was marked out and building commenced the following Monday. On Monday 20th October 1851 a start was made on the foundations of the new Church. The Corner Stone was laid on Shrove Tuesday, 24th February 1852. Among the many present were Lady Caroline Courtenay, the Archdeacon, Lord Devon, Lady Lewin, Lady Percy, Mr & Mrs Hole of Park. There followed a service of thanksgiving at the Parish Church, the sermon being preached by the Right Reverend Francis Fulford, first Bishop of Montreal.</B></div> <div> <B>The Consecration and Dedication of St. John's took place on Thursday 16th June 1853 by Henry Phillpotts, Lord Bishop of Exeter.</B> </div> <div> <B>Among those present were thr Duke of Bedford, the Duke & Duchess of Somerset, Lord John Russell, Sir Laurence Palk and Sir Thomas Northcott. (The last two were just entering Politics and were friends of the Vicar). Also present were the Chichesters of Stokelake. Sir Thomas Northcott later -- as Lord Iddesleigh -- was one of the signatories to the Deed which created St. John's a separate parish.</B></div> <div> <B>The original Church Building consisted of the Chancel, Centre Aisle and South Aisle. The North aisle was added a few years later. In the top photo, on the right, behind the green and yellow bushes, you can see the North Aisle, moving along is the Lady Chapel, then the Vestry and finally the Sanctuary. </B></div> <div> <B>Then the pulpit was moved to it's present position, having been on the other side of the Chancel step. </B></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="05afa4d0.jpg" border=0 width="250" height="333" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <B>The pulpit was made as a memorial to the Reverend Fredrick Gurney in 1898.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B><U>A TOUR OF THE CHURCH.</U></B></div> <bR> <div> <B>If you turn left as you enter, you will see the font,</B> </div> <div> <IMG SRC="1fa58c20.jpg" border=0 width="600" height="450" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <B>the two windows by the font depict, Jesus saying ' Sufer the little children to come unto me'and the baptism of Jesus by Saint John the Baptist.</B> </div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="05c96c80.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">            <IMG SRC="05d96c80.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>At the time of the Dedication and Consecration of the Church, the first baby to be baptised at st John's, by Canon Courtenay, was Edwin Tapper, son of George and Elizabeth Tapper. </B></div> <div> <B>Lady Caroline Courtenay made the Christening robe and the smocking around the yoke was done by Queen Victoria herself.</B> </div> <div> <B>This Christening gown was kept at St John's for the use of all the children Baptised in our Church but sadly it was taken away to be altered by a lady and never returned.</B> </div> <div> <B>The Sacred Heart Statue was placed in the corner behind the Font, the outstretched arms welcoming the newly baptised.</B> </div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="05efa4d0.jpg" border=0 width="250" height="333" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <B>The Sacred Heart Statue has been moved, and now stands in the window of the side altar, as below.</B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="1f858c20.jpg" border=0 width="600" height="450" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>On the first pillar inside the Church is a marble stoup. </B></div> <div> <B>This Holy Water Stoup, which was found by Lt. Col. Sayres on a battlefield in the 1914-1918 World War, was part of a church destroyed in the conflict, and was given to St. John's by Mrs Sayres.</B> </div> <div> <IMG SRC="05f96c80.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <B>The Memorial which is on the pillar opposite the stoup, was erected in memory of the men of the parish who fell in the Great War.</B> </div> <div> <B>The Memorial was carved by Mr Reed of Exeter.</B> </div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="060fa4d0.jpg" border=0 width="250" height="333" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>The windows of the North Aisle, were originally in the Chancel. The north aisle was added to the church in 1866 and the windows were moved to their present position. </B></div> <div> <B>The three windows beside the organ loft steps, depict "Judas betraying </B></div> <div> <B>our Lord"and "St George".</B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="06296c80.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">    <IMG SRC="06396c80.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <bR> <div> <B>St John is our patron Saint and this statue was the first item made for the Church by Mr Herbert Reed of Exeter. The Statue was given to St John's by the Congregation in 1912 in memory of Agnes Livett.</B> </div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="064fa4d0.jpg" border=0 width="250" height="333" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <B>The window beside the statue depicts,"The scouring of Jesus" and "Our Lord carrying the Cross"</B> </div> <div> <IMG SRC="06596c80.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <B>The last window in the North aisle, dipicts " Jesus prepared for nailing to the Cross", and " Joseph of Aramathea taking down from the Cross the body of Jesus"</B> </div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="06696c80.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <B>The windows behind the Side Altar, </B></div> <div> <B>shows "St John the Evaneglist" and "St James". </B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="06e96c80.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <bR> <div> <B>The remaning windows along the South aisle, </B></div> <div> <B>show "St John" and "St Matthew" and "St Mark" and"St Luke"</B> </div> <div> <IMG SRC="06f96c80.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">           <IMG SRC="07096c80.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>The Lady Chapel Altar Reredos.</B></div> <div> <IMG SRC="07115900.jpg" border=0 width="533" height="400" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <B>The brass lectern was given to the Church,</B></div> <div> <B>by a parishoner, in memory of Canon Charles Courtenay.</B></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="072fa4d0.jpg" border=0 width="250" height="333" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <B>The Rood was designed by Fellowes Prynne and was erected to the memory of James Rome. It was carved at Oberammergau by the family of Anton Lang, who played Christ in the 1897 Passion Play.</B> </div> <div> <B>When you look up at the Rood, you will see two stone heads,(at the base of the arch) which represent Sovereign and Church. One is of Queen Victoria and the other is John Bird Summer, who was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1848 to 1862.</B> </div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="073d35e0.jpg" border=0 width="467" height="350" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="074fad50.jpg" border=0 width="250" height="213" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">        <IMG SRC="075fabe0.jpg" border=0 width="250" height="190" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> All photos above by Les Haines.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B><U>S. Catherine's</U></B></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="076fa350.jpg" border=0 width="250" height="309" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>Christmas came early in </B></div> <div> <B>Heathfield this year! 2006.</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <B>Heathfield has got it's own Church.</B></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="077d35e0.jpg" border=0 width="467" height="350" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="078a0c80.gif" border=0 width="160" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>