Saint Mary The Virgin

The arrival of Christianity into the bay comes to us through the missionary expansion of Christianity in the mid years of the first millennium. Monks, travelling from Dorchester, the then capital of the west, brought Christianity along the coast, firstly to Exeter where they founded a monastery, now the Cathedral and then south along the coast to St Marychurch. They founded the first community of Christians around a traditional Cross and then moved onwards down the coast.

This connection with Exeter is still with us as our patronage comes from the Dean, the descendant of the Abbot. And indeed, priests of St Marychurch were, in the first centauries, supplied from the community at Exeter Abbey.

The earliest documentary evidence of the church in St Marychurch is to be found in the doomsday book. A manor belonging to the church was held by Bishop Leofric of Exeter (1050) in Saxon times and by Bishop Osborn under William the conqueror. It is likely that this is one of the earliest churches to be dedicated to Our Lady in the West. According to tradition, the original site of the church was in the Pavor Valley, now the Teignmouth road where a petrol station now stands. Evidence of Saxon buildings was to be found until Victorian expansion in 1832 when they were overlooked and destroyed. This Saxon church, however, kept collapsing, the walls not holding fast.

The priest celebrated a mass to discern Gods will, the voice of Our Lady was heard to say “If you will build Saint Mary’s, you must build it on the hill.” Needless to say, they heeded the voice from heaven and the subsequent building proceeded smoothly on the present site which remains till today.

The Saxon church was replaced by a larger Norman building in the early twelfth century. This building became the focal point of Christian worship for the North of the Bay, encompassing farmland and coast alike.

The growing population of the Bay in medieval times and then the huge expansion of the Victorian age prompted rapid change of S.Mary’s. the building had been let go until the 1850’s when the nave and chancel were demolished and a fine large Victorian building emerged.

The tower was replaced later, the Norman tower demolished and replaced with the present tower of 137 feet dedicated to bishop Philpott who is buried within the churchyard. The parish was divided into the smaller area of S. Mary’s today.

This fine church was built within the tradition of the new Oxford Movement containing all the characteristics of Catholic worship and sacramental life.

Opening Times

01/01/2007 - 31/12/2007