St Nectan's Church, Welcombe Explained

Church of Saint Nectan
Dedication:Saint Nectan
Denomination:Church of England
Churchmanship:Broad
Parish:Welcombe
(Hartland Coast Team Ministry)
Deanery:Hartland
Archdeaconry:Barnstaple
Diocese:Exeter
Province:Canterbury
Priest:Currently in Interrgnum
Priest-in-Charge
Reader:Andrew MacWilliam
Organist:Greg Hookway
Warden:Sheila Wade
Helen Bence
Website:www.welcombe.net
www.achurchnearyou.com/welcombe-st-nectan/

St Nectan's Church is the parish church of Welcombe, on the border of Devon and Cornwall.

W. G. Hoskins writes "St Nectan's Chapel was one of the many medieval chapels in the vast parish of Hartland. It lies in unspoiled country, altogether Cornish in appearance and feeling, with views down the combes to the Atlantic. Welcombe was raised to parochial status in 1508, when the church was enlarged by the addition of the north and south transepts. The square-headed screen (early 14th century) is of unique interest. It is, except for its cornice (which is later and much resembles that at Hartland) by far the earliest remaining screen in Devon. The lectern is Jacobean and the pulpit restored Tudor."[1] The church was 'restored' in 1883-84 and a vestry added in 1911. The tower contains six bells, four cast in 1731.

According to Nikolaus Pevsner the building is early medieval, including the low western tower. The pulpit has narrow early Renaissance panels. There is a holy well near the church.[2]

References

50.9381°N -4.5233°W

Notes and References

  1. W. G. Hoskins, Devon 1st edition. (1992?)
  2. Pevsner, N. (1952) North Devon. Harmondsworth: Penguin Books; p. 162