Great Torrington Parish Church

Advent and Christmas Services

You are most welcome to join us at any of our services

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Welcome to the Benefice...

Welcome to the website of the United Benefice of Great Torrington - comprising Great Torrington, Little Torrington, Frithelstock and Taddiport Churches. North Devon, UK.

About

St. Michael & All Angels' Church, Great Torrington

We are a friendly, welcoming church rooted in the Catholic tradition of the Church of England, committed to dignified worship, and good music. You are most welcome to join us at any of our services.

Forward in Faith

The Society of St. Wilfred and St. Hilda

Welcome

The 4 Churches

Service Times:

You are most welcome to join us at any of our services.

The Week Ahead

Looking ahead:

Scheduled Service Times:
Great Torrington
Little Torrington
Frithelstock
Taddiport

Our Church histories and guides

Please click below for further info...

Great Torrington

St. Michael & All Angels' Church, Great Torrington

A Guide to the Church

Humphrey, a priest, was instituted as Vicar here on 22 February 1259. So there has been a parish church here for 700 years, and probably much longer than that. The oldest parts of this building are 14th century. Leyland’s Itinerary of about 1538 says, “Torington is a great large toune and stondith on the brow of an hille and hath 3 fair streates yn it and a good market everywke, and ons a yere apon St Michal’s day the best fayr in al those quarters. In the toune is but one paroch chirch. Dr Chaumbre is personne thereof.”

Little Torrington

St. Giles' Church, Little Torrington

THE HISTORY OF THE CHURCH

Little Torrington was originally a Saxon Settlement called Toritona. The Domesday survey of 1086 records that before the Norman Conquest in 1066 the Manor of Toritona was held by a Saxon called Edmar during the reign of Edward the Confessor (1042-1066). It is possible, therefore, that the first church to be built here was Saxon, dating from the early 11th century.

Frithelstock

St. Mary & St. Gregory Church, Frithelstock

WELCOME to Frithelstock Town and to the ancient Church dedicated to the Mother of our Lord and to the Pope who sent missionaries to convert our heathen forefathers to the Christian Faith and found the English Church.

The ruins at the north-eastern corner of the Church are all that is left of the Priory founded by Sir Robert de Bello Campo about the year 1220 and endowed for a small community of Augustinian Canons. His purpose was that there should be someone to pray for the repose of his soul for ever after his death. Bishop Walter de Stapledon who was born at Annery, the great house near Monkleigh, increased the endowments and is considered a co-founder with Sir Robert. The church building that still stands was probably built for the families of the Priory retainers and the inhabitants of the village which grew up nearby.

Taddiport

Chapel of St. Mary Magdalen, Taddiport

Taddiport and the leper fields, from Castle Hill

From Castle Hill in Torrington there is a fine view over the Torridge to the parish of Little Torrington. In the bottom of the valley, on the Little Torrington side, by a fine mediaeval bridge, is the hamlet of Taddiport. A little further upstream are two narrow strip fields, popularly known as "leper fields", all that remain of a larger number which were there in living memory.

Taddiport and the Leper fields from Castle Hill

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North Devon Choral Society Handel: Judas Maccabaeus

Saturday 9th December 7.30pm

Our concert on 9th December will be Handel's Judas Maccabaeus.

Based on the dramatic events c160 BC, this oratorio was a tribute to the victorious Prince William Augustus, who overcame Bonnie Prince Charlie, in the battles of England and Scotland in the mid 18th century.

Full of well-known arias and choruses, the story ends with conciliation, peace and harmony. Do come along.

North Devon Choral Society was founded in 1952, and is a thriving, friendly choir that performs at least three concerts a year with top class soloists and accompanists, and with a professional orchestra as often as possible.

Concerts are performed throughout North Devon, mainly in Torrington, Braunton and Barnstaple. We aim to use an orchestra at least once a year, and at Torrington Parish Church (St Michael and All Angels) we also have the benefit of their excellent Father Willis organ dating from 1864. Occasionally, we combine with Bude Choral Society and South Devon Choir to perform a joint concert in Barnstaple and Torbay.

Tickets

More photos

www.northdevonchoral.org.uk

Tickets

at St. Michael's

A Service of Lessons and Carols
with the Winkleigh Singers

Sunday 17th December 6.30pm

A traditional carol service with a mix of favourite carols for all to sing plus some specials from the choir.

The Winkleigh Singers is a Chamber Choir based in North Devon, rehearsing weekly on Monday evenings in Umberleigh.
Further details (Winkleigh Singers website)

Photo: Winkleigh Singers Carols for Christmas, 22 December 2020, view from gallery, Great Torrington Church

www.winkleighsingers.org.uk

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Safeguarding...

If you have a concern about the safety of someone or the actions of someone working with children or vulnerable adults, please speak to:

St Michael's Parish Safeguarding Officer : Mrs Terry Insull : Contact number : 01805 624503

Little Torrington Safeguarding Officer : Claire Cunneen email : cc_tiger_64@hotmail.com  Tel: 01805 624760

Frithelstock Safeguarding Officer : Sidney Adams email : siddrummajor@yahoo.co.uk  Tel: 01805 622300

Taddiport Safeguarding Officer : Rowena Cotton email : rowenamcotton@gmail.com  Tel: 01805 623123

Diocesan Safeguarding Team’s contact details - https://exeter.anglican.org/resources/safeguarding/safeguarding-team/

If you are a young person and you feel unhappy about something happening to you, you can call Childline on 0800 11 11.

The Great Torrington United Benefice Safeguarding Policy Statement is available on the Safeguarding page.