St. Mary, Bideford, Devon

Description

The parish church of St. Mary is a fine building of local stone in the Perpendicular style, consisting of chancel, nave, aisles, transept, north and south porches and a tower containing a clock and 8 bells, six of which date from 1772 and the fourth from 1810: there are several stained windows, including one to Lady Elizabeth (O'Bryen), wife of Sir George Stucley bart. d. May 1870: on the south side of the chancel is a monument to Sir Thomas Graynfyld (Grenville) knt. patron of this church, ob. 18 March 1513, with effigy in armour, and on the tomb are shields of arms of Grenville, and Grenville impaling Gilbert, this knight having married Isabel, daughter of Otto Gilbert, of Compton Marldon: the chancel also retains a stone screen, and there is a fine Norman font with cable moulding: the church with the exception of the tower, was rebuilt in 1865: it seats 1,150.

Church Records

The parish register dates from the year 1561.

Findmypast, in association with the South West Heritage Trust, Parochial Church Council, and Devon Family History Society have the Baptisms, Banns, Marriages, and Burials online for Bideford