Church of St Thomas of Canterbury, Kingswear
Encyclopedia
The Church of St Thomas of Canterbury is situated in the village of Kingswear
in the English county of Devon
, it stands in a slightly elevated position at the junction of Higher Street and Church Hill close to the railway station and the Dartmouth Lower Ferry
and overlooks the River Dart
. The church is a grade II listed building.
and this is thought to have originated because of the wave of piety which followed Thomas’ death in Canterbury Cathedral
in 1170. In its early days the church came under the sphere of influence of Totnes Priory
and the church’s priests were monks from the priory. One of these early priests (around 1250) was the monk Philip Fitzurse who is believed to be a descendent of Reginald Fitzurse
one of the knights who murdered St Thomas.
Throughout the following centuries the church was much utilised by continental pilgrims who used Kingswear as a landing place on the pilgrimage to Canterbury
to see the tomb of St Thomas. During the 14th century St Thomas’ became a Chapel of ease
to the parish church at Brixham
. Subsequent neglect saw it fall into considerable disrepair and by the time Kingswear was declared a separated parish in 1837 it needed substantial renovation work. In 1847, with the town of Kingswear expanding, funds were granted to rebuild the church with the work being overseen by Exeter
architect J. Hayward. The church was demolished except for the original 12th century tower with the rest of the church reconstructed in local limestone
with freestone dressing. Hayward used the same Decorated style and the same design as the old church, but on a slightly reduced scale.
although Cresswell states that it is 15th century, the cover is mid 20th century and is the work of a local craftsman. The carved wooden pulpit
dates from 1921 and was a gift from the late Bishop William Boyd Carpenter
while the oak choir stalls and seating come from the same year and were donated by Sir Thomas Leonard.
The organ
dates from 1916, it was restored in 1950 at a cost of £500, it now stands in a chamber on the north side of the chancel
. The most noteworthy stained glass
window is located near the organ, it depicts St Michael
and is a memorial to Commander Valentine Gibbs who took part in the Zeebrugge Raid
during World War I
and is buried in the church cemetery. The church also contains a memorial and citation to Lieutenant-Colonel H. Jones
VC
who was killed in the Falklands War
.The nave
has some 18th century tomb slabs on the floor while the porch
contains a framed drawing of the church from 1841 and shows the building before the 1847 rebuild.
Kingswear
Kingswear is a village and civil parish in the South Hams area of the English county of Devon. The village is located on the east bank of the tidal River Dart, close to the river's mouth and opposite the small town of Dartmouth...
in the English county of Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
, it stands in a slightly elevated position at the junction of Higher Street and Church Hill close to the railway station and the Dartmouth Lower Ferry
Dartmouth Lower Ferry
The Dartmouth Lower Ferry is a vehicular and passenger ferry which crosses the River Dart in the English county of Devon. It is one of three ferries that cross the tidal river from Dartmouth to Kingswear, the others being the Higher Ferry and the Passenger Ferry...
and overlooks the River Dart
River Dart
The River Dart is a river in Devon, England which rises high on Dartmoor, and releases to the sea at Dartmouth. Its valley and surrounding area is a place of great natural beauty.-Watercourse:...
. The church is a grade II listed building.
History
A church has stood on the present site since 1170 when the land for a church was given by William de Vasci and his wife Juliana, the de Vasci family had been the local landowners since the Norman Conquest. The church was dedicated to St Thomas of CanterburyThomas Becket
Thomas Becket was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1162 until his murder in 1170. He is venerated as a saint and martyr by both the Roman Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion...
and this is thought to have originated because of the wave of piety which followed Thomas’ death in Canterbury Cathedral
Canterbury Cathedral
Canterbury Cathedral in Canterbury, Kent, is one of the oldest and most famous Christian structures in England and forms part of a World Heritage Site....
in 1170. In its early days the church came under the sphere of influence of Totnes Priory
Totnes Priory
-References:...
and the church’s priests were monks from the priory. One of these early priests (around 1250) was the monk Philip Fitzurse who is believed to be a descendent of Reginald Fitzurse
Reginald Fitzurse
Sir Reginald FitzUrse was one of the four knights who murdered Thomas Becket in 1170.His name is derived from Fitz which is a contracted form of the Norman-French fils de, meaning "son of" and Urse from the Latin ursus, meaning a bear, probable nom de guerre of his ancestor...
one of the knights who murdered St Thomas.
Throughout the following centuries the church was much utilised by continental pilgrims who used Kingswear as a landing place on the pilgrimage to Canterbury
Canterbury
Canterbury is a historic English cathedral city, which lies at the heart of the City of Canterbury, a district of Kent in South East England. It lies on the River Stour....
to see the tomb of St Thomas. During the 14th century St Thomas’ became a Chapel of ease
Chapel of ease
A chapel of ease is a church building other than the parish church, built within the bounds of a parish for the attendance of those who cannot reach the parish church conveniently....
to the parish church at Brixham
Brixham
Brixham is a small fishing town and civil parish in the county of Devon, in the south-west of England. Brixham is at the southern end of Torbay, across the bay from Torquay, and is a fishing port. Fishing and tourism are its major industries. At the time of the 2001 census it had a population of...
. Subsequent neglect saw it fall into considerable disrepair and by the time Kingswear was declared a separated parish in 1837 it needed substantial renovation work. In 1847, with the town of Kingswear expanding, funds were granted to rebuild the church with the work being overseen by Exeter
Exeter
Exeter is a historic city in Devon, England. It lies within the ceremonial county of Devon, of which it is the county town as well as the home of Devon County Council. Currently the administrative area has the status of a non-metropolitan district, and is therefore under the administration of the...
architect J. Hayward. The church was demolished except for the original 12th century tower with the rest of the church reconstructed in local limestone
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
with freestone dressing. Hayward used the same Decorated style and the same design as the old church, but on a slightly reduced scale.
Church features
The church has a peel of three bells within the tower, there was formerly four but one was sold off in 1767 to pay for a clock for the church, it is not known which foundry cast the bells although one of them has a date of 1680 stamped on it. The present day clock dates from 1897, it cost £124 and was purchased by subscription from Kingswear village to mark the sixtieth anniversary of Queen Victoria’s accession to the throne. It is thought by some that the octagonal font is NormanNormans
The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
although Cresswell states that it is 15th century, the cover is mid 20th century and is the work of a local craftsman. The carved wooden pulpit
Pulpit
Pulpit is a speakers' stand in a church. In many Christian churches, there are two speakers' stands at the front of the church. Typically, the one on the left is called the pulpit...
dates from 1921 and was a gift from the late Bishop William Boyd Carpenter
William Boyd Carpenter
William Boyd Carpenter KCVO was a Church of England clergyman who became Bishop of Ripon and court chaplain to Queen Victoria.-Family:William Boyd Carpenter was the second son of the Rev...
while the oak choir stalls and seating come from the same year and were donated by Sir Thomas Leonard.
The organ
Organ (music)
The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
dates from 1916, it was restored in 1950 at a cost of £500, it now stands in a chamber on the north side of the chancel
Chancel
In church architecture, the chancel is the space around the altar in the sanctuary at the liturgical east end of a traditional Christian church building...
. The most noteworthy stained glass
Stained glass
The term stained glass can refer to coloured glass as a material or to works produced from it. Throughout its thousand-year history, the term has been applied almost exclusively to the windows of churches and other significant buildings...
window is located near the organ, it depicts St Michael
Michael (archangel)
Michael , Micha'el or Mîkhā'ēl; , Mikhaḗl; or Míchaël; , Mīkhā'īl) is an archangel in Jewish, Christian, and Islamic teachings. Roman Catholics, Anglicans, and Lutherans refer to him as Saint Michael the Archangel and also simply as Saint Michael...
and is a memorial to Commander Valentine Gibbs who took part in the Zeebrugge Raid
Zeebrugge Raid
The Zeebrugge Raid, which took place on 23 April 1918, was an attempt by the British Royal Navy to neutralize the key Belgian port of Bruges-Zeebrugge...
during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and is buried in the church cemetery. The church also contains a memorial and citation to Lieutenant-Colonel H. Jones
H. Jones
Lieutenant-Colonel Herbert Jones VC OBE, , known as H. Jones, was a British army officer and posthumous recipient of the Victoria Cross...
VC
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
who was killed in the Falklands War
Falklands War
The Falklands War , also called the Falklands Conflict or Falklands Crisis, was fought in 1982 between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the disputed Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands...
.The nave
Nave
In Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar, the main body of the church. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...
has some 18th century tomb slabs on the floor while the porch
Porch
A porch is external to the walls of the main building proper, but may be enclosed by screen, latticework, broad windows, or other light frame walls extending from the main structure.There are various styles of porches, all of which depend on the architectural tradition of its location...
contains a framed drawing of the church from 1841 and shows the building before the 1847 rebuild.