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Welcome to Chagford |
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 The
Parish Church of St. MICHAEL the ARCHANGEL St. Michael's Church occupies a site probably hallowed for centuries before the construction of the present building. The commanding position of the church within an upland landscape has served as a powerful symbolic landmark for generations. Today it is still a focus for the continuity of a thousand years of community life.
St. Michael's is a highly active church, being the largest church and parish within the Whiddon Parishes of Dartmoor, a benefice of six parishes (Chagford, Drewsteignton, Hittisleigh, Spreyton, Gidleigh and Throwleigh). This is served by a Rector (resident in Chagford), an Associate Priest and four Readers.
SERVICES: Sundays -
9.30 am - Sung Communion (1st Sunday - Family Communion) BELLRINGERS meet weekly for practice at 7.30 pm on Tuesday evenings. They ring for Sunday services and regularly take part in competitions with other towers. CHOIR PRACTICE is held on Thursday evenings and the choir (Juniors and Adults) strongly supports the services, which include traditional psalms and canticles as well as contemporary music.
The church also hosts other activities - concerts by the Chagford Singers and other musical groups, performances by the Ploughshare Theatre, flower festivals - as well as the traditional festivals and seasonal services. The local Church School of 200 pupils takes an active part in church life.
The Parish
Church stands a few metres from the busy market square and its worship
remains the heartbeat of this vibrant community. Photos by Jill Pendleton |
The
Parish Church of Chagford was dedicated to St. Michael the Archangel on
30th July 1261 by Bishop Branscombe. The present building is mainly fifteenth
century although some thirteenth century work remains. The west window,
now in the tower, is thought to be the original west window of the early
church. The Lady Chapel was added in 1482, and the organ chamber and sacristy
were added in the nineteenth century. As a Septcentenary thanksgiving
the church was refloored in granite, a ringers chamber was constructed
in the tower, and the reredos and parclose screens were re-guilded. The
present screen was dedicated by the Bishop of Plymouth in 1927 as a memorial
to Noel Hayter-Hames. The original rood loft was put up in 1555, the same
year as an altar in the chapel dedicated to St. Katherine, patron saint
of tinners, where the organ (1891 - Heles of Saltash) now stands. A ring
of four bells in the tower is recorded in 1537, to which further bells
were added later. The whole ring of eight was recast in 1914. The bells
were silenced during 2000 because of wet rot in the foundation beams of
the tower below the bell frame. The restoration work, together with that
of the south porch and boundary wall, was completed in one year thanks
to a successful appeal which raised £58,000.
The
well maintained churchyard contains many graves of historical importance
and interest. The War Memorial is a Dartmoor granite cross which was formerly
the Market Cross which stood in the square. Here there is a bench from
which one can enjoy the excellent view across the Teign valley to the
Teign gorge and Castle Drogo - arguably one of the finest of views in
the country.
THE
FRIENDS OF ST. MICHAEL'S
We
welcome visitors to our historic church - to services on Sundays and Wednesdays
- to enjoy this Grade I listed historical building. A brochure outlining
the most important features is available in the church. Please feel free
to seek more advice and details of the programme of church activities
from the Parish Co-ordinator at the Parish Office (Monday; Wednesday;
Friday 0900 - 1230) tel: 01647 432265.