The Church
There was probably a Celtic settlement on the site of the church around the 6th century when Cadoc came as a missionary from Wales. Cadoc’s well can still be seen outside the church wall. It is likely that “Quethiock” is a derivative of Cadoc.
The large ancient Celtic Cross in the churchyard dates from the 7th or 9th century. It was erected in 1882, having been found in four pieces. It is one of the finest of its kind .
The original Norman church was cruciform.
1230-The advowson of the church was sold by Gilbert Fitz-Vivian to Warin Fitz Serlo ancestor of Stephen de Haccombe
1288 – It was rededicated to St Hugh of Lincoln often pictured with a tame swan as seen in the window in the chancel.
1336- The church was appropriated by the wish of the deceased patron, Sir Stephen de Haccombe to the Archpresbytery which he had established at Haccombe, near Newton Abbot.
1334 – The church was re-built. The chancel by the Archpriest, as rector, the south transept by the Lord of Trehunsey thence known as the Trehunsey Chapel. Via the ‘squint’ the altar can be seen from the transept.
The North transept was built by the Lord of Trecorne.
The staircase is still there that allowed access to the rood screen.
1471 – Brass to Roger Kyngdon kneeling at prayer with his wife, 11 boys and 5 girls. One son is taller than the rest has a crown on his left shoulder; he was a yeoman of the guard, and one of his brothers dressed as a priest was rector of Looe.
The present church built mostly in the 14th century of sandstone.
The wagon roof is a fine example of pre-reformation work possibly carried out by the monks of Tavistock Abbey, the thirty six bosses are emblems of Cornish Saints.
1578-In the time of Elizabeth I , Hugh Vashmond appeared at the inquisition at Plint in Cornwall, to save the great tithes of Quethiock parish which were in danger of being taken away because the vicar (probably Gilbert Germyn) had been using superstitious rites. He was paid to perform these rites by the income from letting of some land belonging to Leigh. The parishioners won the day. It does not seem quite clear whether the saying of prayers for the dead on Candlemas Eve was legal or illegal – at least the tithes were not taken away.
1599- Hugh Vashmond died the inscription on the altar tomb in the church reads:
My race is runn, my goal obtained
The combat done, the conquest gained
You the survive learn this of me
So runn, so strive so crowned be.
1631 – Brass memorial to Richard Chiverton, wife and eleven children.
18th Century – The church flourished until this century after which it fell into rapid decay. The reasons are not clear but it might have been that the incumbent had several parishes in his care, Travelling on horseback for significant distances will not have been easy.
1764- On the south wall outside the church you can find a sundial. As a reference to time it carries the inscription:
“So soon passeth it away”
1798-In the choir there is a marble memorial to John Rogers who died this year.
1844- In the Trehnsey aisle there id a marble memorial to John Rogers who died this year.
1878- The Revd William Willimot was made the incumbent and set about restoring St Hughs from its dilapidated state. He designed and made the stain glass windows retaining a small fragment of medieval glass, carved the chancel screen and made four oak chairs. He was also responsible for the roof colouring in the chancel. The builder employed to carry out some of the repairs was Blowey’s of Buckland Monachorum.
1879 – The church was re-opened
The wall painting behind the altar, date and artist unknown, is considered to be Victorian. 1949- The last burial in the churchyard was Ann Cannon in March of this year she was 92 years old.
1953 - The Trehunsey Chapel was re-dedicated to the ‘Communion of Saints’.
The Cache
The headline coordinates will take you to the entrance porch of the church.
Driectly opposite the porch entrance is a memorial stone to:
Nicolas Henwood ABCD - ACED
and also to his wife, Dorothy Alice - ACFG - ACCH
The cache can be found at N 50 N 50 27.GCE W 004 22.BD(H+A)
Roadside parking is available in a number of places within the village.
The cache is a camo'd small clip lock box which has room for small TBs and Geocoins.
Please Bring Your Own Pen - BYOP
The cache is a short walk away and roadside parking is also available at the cache location.
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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.co.uk
See also the Church Micro Statistics and Home pages for further information about the series.
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