A Short Guide

to St Mary's

A Tour of St Mary's Parish Church

Appledore, North Devon

Enter the Church by the North Porch and turn left towards the Altar. On the wall is a wooden Roll of Honour commemorating those killed in action during the First World War. It has a rather moving painting of a fallen soldier being looked down on by the Crucified Lord.

Next is a window with the only Old Testament scene in the Church: the presentation of the child Samuel to Eli in the Temple, It was given by the children who had been Baptised in this Church. The text held by the right hand Angel is from Psalm 127.

Window No.2 is four Gospel scenes. The Adoration of the Magi (Matthew 2, 11). The Finding in the Temple (Luke 2, 46). Note the figures of Joseph and the Blessed Virgin Mary in the doorway. The Baptism of Our Lord (John 1, 29ff) and His Agony in the Garden (Luke 22, 41). Erected in memory of Thomas and Elizabeth Hamlyn.

Window No.3 is of the Garden of Gethsemane. The bright figures of Christ and the Angel contrast with the background gloom of the Holy City, out of which are coming Judas and the High Priests' men to arrest Him. In the Garden grows an appletree, an allusion to the Fall. Erected to commemorate William and Elizabeth Yeo.

You will now see the Pulpit just to your right. Note the coil of carved rope that it rests on! It is made of freestone and marble, and on the panels are shields bearing the initials of the donor and others of his family. Right next to the pulpit is the Chancel Screen. Dated 1912 and made at P K Harris & Sons Shipyard (now known as Appledore Shipyard) it was given in memory of John Lang, Churchwarden from 1886-1889, and P K Harris's father-in-law.

Next there is the organ: a two manual instrument with tracker action.

The East Window: its central light shows the Crucifixion and below the Last Supper. On either side are depicted the Nativity and the Ascension within the small lights above, the four Evangelists. It bears the inscription "This window and chancel decorations were given to this Church by Chas Bligh".

Beneath is the old Reredos, behind the Altar, in the style of the Pulpit but now partially hidden by a more modern wooden Reredos, which, together with the Communion Rails of contemporary design, were erected in memory of the Reverend Hugh Muller, Vicar of this parish until February 1953, and a much loved character!

The St Anne's Chapel is behind the choir stalls and was dedicated by the Bishop of Exeter on the 150th anniversary of the Church in 1988. The Mothers' Union donated the carpet and the chairs were given in memory of loved ones by the congregation. On the south wall is the Aumbrey, where the Blessed Sacrament is reserved to communicate the sick. It was given in memory of Kitty Slade by her family.

Facing East, whilst in St Anne's Chapel, you will see the Lundy Window. It was designed by the Bideford artist, James Paterson, and portrays St Helena the Patron Saint of Lundy, carrying a boat, and St Michael with an aeroplane. There is also a map of Lundy with white horses as well as many seabirds including, of course, a Puffin! It was given in memory of Arthur Manley Tucker and his son, George. The father was buried off Lundy and his son was killed in action in the RAF during WW2.

The South facing window in the Chapel is in memory of War dead, especially of Lord Glanely, a great benefactor to the Church. Designed by Francis Spear, it shows the Stilling of the Storm and the Patron Saints of Sailors, Soldiers and Airmen - St Nicholas, St George and St Michael. In the spandrel is a Pelican, the symbol of Christ's sacrifice. On either side of the window hang the Colours of HMS Appledore which were presented to the Church on All Saints Day in 1947 to remain in the building "for perpetual remembrance sake and for the ennoblement and prosperity of our Country".

The next window represents the Annunciation (Luke 1, 26ff) and was given in memory of John and Mary Anne Thomas.

The First World War Window was given by Lord Glanely in memory of those who died in that War. It lists their names and shows two Angels, one with a Chalice and the other carrying a Martyr's Crown. Before them kneel or stand figures representing those who died in the Great War: a Soldier, a Sailor, a Nurse and a Priest. In the background can be seen a rainbow, a ruined building and a gothic spire.

The next window shows Mary Magdalene in the Garden meeting the Risen Christ (John 20, 16). Behind is the City of Jerusalem and Calvary. It was given by Mrs Scholey and her sister in memory of their parents.

You have now reached (or should have!) the door to the South Porch and Bell Tower. In the ringing chamber there is a clock, to remind the ringers when the start of a service approaches, and was given in memory of Charlie Day, Churchwarden and Bellringer for many years, by the bellringers. As previously mentioned in this guide, there is a ring of eight bells at St Mary's, and since being recast in 1962, have additional inscriptions including "I call the Children", "I call the Ladies", "I call the Men", and on the 5th bell is "I ring that we all may be one". It was suggested at the Rededication of the bells that it should be called the Unity Bell and should be tolled before each service to remind us of its purpose. The tower also houses the clock and has already been described.

Returning into the Church, on your left is a lancet window illustrating the text "Suffer Little Children", given in memory of James and Ann Tatem.

Next is a modern mural created by local artist, Reg Lloyd, entitled "The Industrial Christ" representing the dependence of the village of Appledore upon the sea and given in memory of Catherine Augusta Saunders, who died in 1960, by her husband, Arthur C Saunders. It shows the figure of Christ flanked by the old and the new. On His left are three coastal craft and a selection of traditional tools which would have been used in their construction in shipyards such as Hinks of Appledore. On His right is the modern, represented by the RNLI, the fishing fleet, and the Appledore Shipyard with a selection of modern welding and cutting equipment.

The West Window, depicting Faith, Hope and Charity, with a maritime illustration from the Gospels: The Stilling of the Storm (Mark 14, 29ff). It was given in memory of Thomas and Louisa Tatem.

To the left of the Vestry door is a list of all the Vicars who have served in this Church. Three of them, the Reverends H Muller, Roy Dixon and Donald Peyton-Jones, were priest-in-charge of Lundy as well as Vicars of this Church.

The last window of the tour is the lancet window just by the North Door and illustrates the saying "I am the Good Shepherd" (John 10, 11) with the Sea of Galilee in the background, and was given in memory of William and Charlotte Cock.

Our tour has brought us back to the North Porch where we began. We hope that you have enjoyed your visit and that you will return to this Parish and the Church of St Mary's.

Please remember in your thoughts and prayers our Vicar, John Ewington, his team, and all those who worship here and all those who come here to find rest and peace.