The above Coordinates will take you to the first waypoint for you to gather information. I have also given a waypoint where you can park, from here you will need to follow the signs to the Church, which is a short walk. Please take the time to look inside the Church where you can see several Stain Glass Windows and also a model of the Church made from flowers created for a flower show.
The Chapel of St John the Baptist as it was referred to in the original Deed of 19th June 1863 was built and largely financed by Charlotte Rosamund Larpent who conceived of the idea of having a church and school in this part of the ancient parish of Widecombe in the moor.
The London Gazette of 4th March 1864 refers to a meeting of The Privy Council held at Windsor on 1st March officially recognising the creation of the parish of Leusdon, Rev. T.H.Wilkinson became its first vicar. Leusdon remains an integral part of the civil parish of Widecombe in the moor.
There had previously been a Chapel of St Leonard at Spitchwick close to Leusdon which was served by monks from the Priory of St Mary Church Torquay. It is mentioned in a Latin Deed dated 1283, preserved in the Exeter Cathedral Library, it evidently fell into ruin on the Dissolution of the Monasteries by Henry VIII in 1539 . It was situated in a field still called Chapel Park close to Spitchwick Manor and only a few fields away from Leusdon Church. The only known remain is some masonry built into a stable at Spitchwick Farm.
The church of St John the Baptist was modelled on the Norman Church of St Peter across the Webburn valley at Buckland in the Moor.
In 1903 a granite cross in memory of Mrs Larpent was placed in the churchyard adjacent to the west wall. Not only did she finance the building of the church and the school, she also built a vicarage and cottage adjoining.
In 1910 the oak reredos and altar rail were installed in memory of the six year old son of Mr and Mrs F.P.T. Struben of Spitchwick Manor. At the same time the floor of the Sanctuary was surfaced with Ashburton marble and the altar placed on a marble plinth. The brass plaque on the north wall of the Nave is in memory of their other son.
In Order to locate the Geocache you need to collect the following information located at the Waypoints.
Waypoint 1
John (Jack) Cleave Died 7 April 19A8 Aged 7B
Also his Wife
Elizabeth Ann Cleave 2C September 19D8 Aged 8E
Waypoint 2
Betsy Hanniford Who departed June F4 186G Aged 7H
Now you just need to do some simple sums
Final N 50° 32.(D-H)(B+C)(H+B-G) W 003° 49.(C+F)(E-C)(D-A)
Permission kindly granted by Dartmoor National Park using theirGeocaching Guidelines
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For full information on how you can expand the Church Micro series by sadexploration please read the Place your own Church Micro page before you contact him at churchmicro@gmail.com.
See also the Church Micro Statistics and Home pages for further information about the series.
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