Devon
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The rector who took time off to write a novel
‘But there is Ilfracombe, with its rock-walled harbour, its little wood of masts within, its white terraces, rambling up the hills, and its Capstone sea-walk, the finest “marine parade,” as Cockneydom terms it, in all England, except that splendid Hoe at Plymouth … And...
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Farewell to a man of ‘spiritual generosity and kindness’
On 6 March, 2019, Lord Habgood, who was Archbishop of York from 1983 to 1995, died at the age of 91. Eighty years earlier, at Eton, he hated games, but enjoyed chapel, although he rejected anything to do with God...
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A view of Challacombe Church
Sheila and I have discovered a lovely walk which we recommend. From Ilfracombe, you drive south down the A399 in the direction of Brayford but at Four Cross Way you turn left towards Challacombe. This takes you high up over...
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What was the bishop doing in Ilfracombe?
Lord William Cecil was the second son of the former Prime Minister, Lord Salisbury. His time at Oxford, which he enjoyed, suggested that he may not have inherited his father’s brains since he only managed a third class degree in...
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The preacher who surprised the people of Ilfracombe
In the entire history of the Church of England there has only been one father and son who have both become Archbishops of Canterbury – Frederick and William Temple. Although Frederick was born in Santa Maura, in 1821 when...
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On visiting the Exeter deanery
In the year 1501, 16 year-old Catherine of Aragon was en route from Spain to London where she would marry Arthur, the eldest son of King Henry VII. She stayed at the Exeter Deanery, close to St Mary Major...
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The genius of Henry Francis Lyte
Last month I wrote that Devon hasn’t produced many well-known hymn writers. But one of the greatest arrived in Devon from Hampshire early in 1822 at the age of 29 and, with his family, moved to Bramble Torr, a...
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The Devon hymn-writer who prepared a lantern for Christ
Next month sees the Ilfracombe Victorian Celebration from 13-17 June, with Victorian Songs of Praise at Pip and Jim’s on Sunday 17 June. Devon hasn’t produced many well-known hymn writers but Sabine Baring-Gould was an interesting and remarkable exception...
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The secret of George Müller’s happiness
When I was young we used to sing a quaint hymn which began, ‘With harps and with viols there stand a great throng in the presence of Jesus, and sing this new song …’ It had a catchy tune...
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Boniface and the story of the Christmas tree
St Boniface, who was born in or near Crediton around the year 675, went on to play a central role in the conversion to Christianity of what we now call Germany. But he is also important as we think about...
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