“Medieval Rood Screens"

Feniton History Group invite you to

a talk on

 “Medieval Rood Screens - Their Rise and Their Fall...”

Our guest speaker, Martin Horrell, will  explain the historic importance and origins of the Rood Screen, their influence and gradual removal in the 18th Century, Mr Horrell is an expert on the subject as well as in church design and craftsmanship. This talk will be a treat for all those interested in historic Devon churches

This will take place in Feniton Church at 7:30 pm on Thursday 20^th April

admission £4 to include tea / coffee and biscuits.

Feniton History Group held the 77th Meeting in the Nog Inn

 Fascinating evening, which I kicked off with my visit to Hampshire, to Old Portsmouth and the SeaCity Museum in Southampton, we discussed the Titanic story and the new evidence of the coal bunker fire which may have cause weakness in the plates.  Googling this brings up so many conspiracy theories, I doubt the truth will ever be found.

David has been in contact with a member of a family in relation to a grave in the churchyard, from this contact David now has some wonderful diaries to transcribe, notes about the farm work and his lady friends, fascinating and a real insight in to rural life of the day.  We look forward to reading David’s transcript. 

 George is still working on Nonconformist Chapels.  I have his latest research to share with you via a Word document. He told us about the acts to stop non-conformist preaching, the     5 mile act which led to persecution and excommunication.

Jenny brought along her family history research, which she had been working on for the last twenty years and is now in book form with pull out pages showing the family trees. A wonderful effort, and with Jenny’s wonderful way with words it is very interesting.

Brenda told us more of her work on the Parr Cottages, Joseph Chown renovated them,  taking the thatch off in 1880. The Rashleigh family were the owners, they had links to Cornwall and Charlestown. The full research is being published in the Parish Magazine.

Alan  kindly brought along the railway photos for display at the Railway AGM in Nog Inn at 10:30 till mid afternoon on Sat 18^th March. People are welcome to drop in and see the display.

 We have the talk on Church Screens in the church on Thurs 20th April church  at 7:30 pm

Following on from the Boundary walk we all enjoyed last year, George has kindly offered to find a route for us via Green Lane walking down towards the A30  and back towards the old village. This will be on Rogation Sunday which falls on Sunday 21^st May this year.  

Robert Neal of OSM Heritage has  kindly invited the Group to join  them at 8:00 pm Tues 20th June  to mark  the Beeching axe closing the Sidmouth Junction to Sidmouth Line. This will be a showing of the BBC film 'The Train Now Departing'

Next meeting in the Nog Inn 8pm on Thurs 6^th April.

BISHOP PATTESONS’S MEMORIAL RE-DEDICATION CEREMONY 9TH FEB 2017

On Thursday 9^th February, a prominent East Devon landmark was rededicated by two Anglican Bishops who travelled over 10,000 miles to pay their respects. The memorial at Patteson’s Cross was commissioned to remember John Coleridge Patteson from East Devon, who was a missionary and the first Bishop of Melanesia, but martyred in the Solomon Islands in 1871.

The refurbishment project by the Ottery St Mary Heritage Society was completed last September, on time and on budget. It was gratifying to learn that the life of Bishop Patteson and the importance of maintaining such a splendid memorial to his name engendered so much interest, both locally and nationally.

The institutions at which Bishop Patteson received his education – The King’s School at Ottery St Mary, Eton College and the Oxford University Colleges of Balliol and Merton – gave generous donations.  Major institutional grant providers included the Tale Valley Trust, Allchurches Foundation Trust, Devon County Council and Ottery St Mary Town Council.  The Heritage Society has expressed its gratitude to these bodies, as well as to many individuals, for their generosity.

prayer by the Revd. Prebendary Cate Edmonds was followed by readings by David Lanning and pupils from Feniton Primary School.  The ceremony of rededicating the memorial by the Rt Revd Leonard Dawea, Bishop of Temotu and the Rt Revd Ellison Quity, Bishop of Ysabel, both in the Solomon Islands, marked a fitting completion to the refurbishment project.  

The congregation included Lord and Lady Coleridge, Revd. Stephen Weston, Ven. John Rawlings, Cllr Roger Giles, the Melanesian Mission, members of the OSM Heritage Society, the Feniton History Group, pupils from The King‘s School, Payhembury and Tipton St John Primary Schools and members of the public.

After the ceremony, most people moved quickly to Escot Village Hall to socialize, with a welcome cup of hot soup and other refreshments. Robert Neal, chairman of the Heritage Society, gave a short welcoming address, and Bishops Ellison and Leonard expressed their pleasure and thanks for the opportunity to participate in the ceremony, and to meet many local residents.

Chris Saunders