St Brannock's Church
St Brannock's Church, Braunton
51°06′47″N 4°09′35″W / 51.1130°N 4.1597°W / 51.1130; -4.1597
LocationBraunton
CountryUnited Kingdom
DenominationChurch of England
ChurchmanshipLiberal Anglo-Catholic
Websitehttp://www.brauntonchurch.org
History
Foundedc.550 AD (origins)
Founder(s)St Brannock
Architecture
StyleEarly English
Years builtThirteenth Century
Administration
DioceseDiocese of Exeter
Clergy
Vicar(s)The Revd David Baker

St Brannock's Church is a medieval Church of England church in Braunton, Devon, England. According to legend it was founded by Saint Brannock, a 6th-century Christian saint. It became a Grade I listed building on 25 February 1965.[1]

History

The present church dates from the thirteenth century and stands on the foundations of its Saxon predecessor,[2] though Christian worship on the site may date back to as early as the 6th century.[3] St Brannock was an early Christian saint who is believed to have migrated from South Wales to establish a monastery at Braunton in the 6th century. Sir John Betjeman states that St Brannoc was "almost certainly" buried beneath the high altar.[4]

Local tradition suggests that St Brannock originally built his church on a hill overlooking Braunton, but that the church collapsed. Following this setback, in a dream, the Saint was told to look for "a sow and piglets", and that this would be the site to build his new church. This story is commemorated in one of the stained glass windows and also in a roof boss of the church, which features a sow feeding her litter.[3][4]

The church was seriously damaged as a result of an arson attack in July 2003. The fire completely destroyed the gallery housing the organ pipes, which dated to the 16th century, as well as damaging pews and an antique Bible. As a result of this, services were temporarily moved to nearby Brannock Rooms while restoration work went ahead.[5] Following the attack, posters were placed around Braunton, threatening the perpetrators with revenge.[6] At a trial in December, three pre-teen boys were found guilty of starting the fire and given 12-month supervision orders.[7]

Architecture and fittings

Nikolaus Pevsner described the church as "one of the most interesting, and also one of the most puzzling in North Devon",[8] mentioning its massive, apparently Norman, south tower; its lead-covered broach spire, similar to that at St Peter and St Paul at Barnstaple; and the nave which despite being 34 ft wide, has no aisles.

Betjeman describes the church as "not very prepossessing but well worth visiting", and as having "a remarkably wide nave covered by a fine roof enriched with fifteenth century bosses".[4] It also boasts an early Norman font, a Jacobean pulpit, and fourteenth-century carved wooden pews, which are listed.[3] A series of 16th-century chestnut pew ends are of carved woodwork;[9] one has a likeness of St Brannoc with a cow, testament to a tale surrounding him that a neighbour stole his cow, slaughtered it, put it into a stewing pot, and upon shouting the cow's name, Brannoc brought his cow back to life, reassembling it on the spot.[10][11]

The tower of St Brannock's Church is over 700 years old and the chancel which has an arch and three lancets is about the same age. The 15th-century south chapel has a brass palimpsest (a monumental brass that has been re-used), hinged so that both sides are visible. The church is reportedly haunted.[11]

The earliest surviving feature is a Saxon burial stone.[3] There is a chest that may have come to England with the Spanish Armada. The church's war memorial was dedicated on 2 November 1921 in memory of soldiers from the village who died during the First World War. Constructed of stone from Somerset, it was restored in 2009.[12]

Events

St Brannock's Church frequently holds musical events, including a performance by folk singer Julie Felix.[13] It has also held exhibitions of local culture and history.[14][15]

References

Notes

  1. ↑ Historic England. "Church of St Brannock (1325560)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
  2. ↑ Billing, Joanna, p.75, The Hidden Places of Devon Retrieved May 2012
  3. 1 2 3 4 Official Leaflet
  4. 1 2 3 Betjeman, Sir John, Betjeman’s Best British Churches Retrieved May 2012
  5. ↑ "Blaze shuts ancient church for months". Western Morning News. 24 July 2003.
  6. ↑ "Revenge Threat Over Church Fire". Western Morning News. 31 July 2003.
  7. ↑ "Church firebugs". Western Daily Press. 19 December 2003.
  8. ↑ Pevsner, Nikolaus (1989) [1952]. Cherry, Bridget (ed.). The Buildings of England: Devon. Penguin Books. pp. 207–8. ISBN 0-14-071050-7.
  9. ↑ Betjeman, J. (ed.) (1968) Collins Pocket Guide to English Parish Churches: the South. London: Collins; p. 159-60
  10. ↑ Oxford Journals (Firm) (1863). Notes and queries. Oxford University Press. p. 29. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
  11. 1 2 "St. Brannock's Church". Haunted Britiain. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
  12. ↑ Harper, Paul (13 August 2009). "Braunton's first world war memorial gets a facelift". North Devon Journal.
  13. ↑ "Local church announces a summer filled with music". North Devon Journal. 29 May 2008.
  14. ↑ "Church hosts exhibition". North Devon Journal. 24 September 2009.
  15. ↑ "Church exhibition". North Devon Journal. 23 June 2011.
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