History and local history
This is the combined History and Churches and Historic Buildings group active since March 2024
The first visit of the year, on the 25th April, will be a return to two churches that have proved very popular on earlier visits, Using our own cars, we will meet at St Mary's Honeychurch (EX20 2AE) at 10.AM. We should be able to spend 90 minutes here before moving along the road for two miles to St Andrew's Sampford Courtenay (EX20 2ST). The Prayer Book Rebellion started here in 1549 on the steps of the Church House when a William Hellyons was killed with a bill hook.. I have asked the incumbent if he can arrange a tour of the church for us & if we can have a look at the Church House. The whole village is well worth a detailed look
Honeychurch is a delightfully unspoilt church (it still has no electricity), built between the C12th & the C15th with wooden box pews and lots of fascinating furnishings like the Noman font.
St Andrew’s Sampford Courtenay, has many fascinating features including green men bosses & a bosses of the Tinner’a Hares & a sow & piglets The Devon Churchland & Greater English Churches websites have excellent and well illustrated articles on both Honeychurch and Sampford Courtenay.
We will eat in the New Inn (very near the church) and around 1pm. I have told them that we will be coming & they will need our menu choices (menu not ready yet)