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Do not let love & fidelity We hope you enjoy forsake you; your visit to our church ... bind them around your neck, The Parish Church of write them on the tablet of your heart. St Michael & Then you will find favour and Meeth parish is mentioned in Domesday good repute in the sight Book (1086), along with many farms in the area that are still thriving today. The lord then was noted of God and of people All Angels as Bernard Napeless. However, there is evidence of an established community long before Norman Proverbs 3:3 –4 times, and some indications that the parish could Meeth, Devon have had associations with Glastonbury from as early as AD802, putting it amongst the earliest Christian communities in Devon.

The Church is integral to a local community of almost 170 people. Services are well supported at Harvest and Christmas, and other local ‘red letter’ days, as is the church fete. The church is regularly used for baptisms, weddings and funerals.

Local residents contribute to church life in various ways, from ringing the bells and arranging flowers to polishing the brass and sweeping the path, as well as helping with numerous social events throughout the year. Where there is need, help is forthcoming.

St Michael & All Angels is listed Grade II*. It was dedicated to St Michael in medieval times, but was mistakenly attributed to John the Baptist when dedications were restored in the C18th (having been www.northmoorteam.org.uk/meeth abolished in the Reformation). Michael’s dedication was restored by 1846. ‘All Angels’ is more recent. Many thanks to: Photographs by Richard Proctor, Simon Cartlidge and Gary Young A small church, suited to the size of the community, Archaeological Reports by Sam Walls & Emily Wapshott (2012), it’s clearly visible approaching Meeth, standing back and by John Allan (2015) on a curve on the A386 Torrington-to-Hatherleigh Investigations Report by Simon Cartlidge Historical Research by Jennifer Green, Amelia Draper and Paul road. The village has a pub and a specialist timber Hansford business. Devon Wildlife Trusts Nature Reserve and Meeth Parochial Church Council , especially churchwardens the Tarka Trail are a short distance away. A cobbled Ingrid Dodd and Beryl Toop, and fabric co-ordinator Jennifer Green lime-tree avenue provides the approach. NGR: SS5480508283; EH 1308852; EH building ID: 93295 Disabled Facilities Available The altar brasses consist of a large, fine cross; two pairs of candlesticks; The oak altar rails are C17, two pairs of flower vases; and an alms dish. The communion cup, donated renewed in the C18 and refitted by then-patron Richard Blinch of Bideford, is silver, hallmarked London in 1893. The altar itself, choir 1642/3, with a bucket-shaped bowl and baluster stem. The plain stalls, lectern, altar brasses and paten appears silver, but with no hallmarks. The silver is not kept in the other fittings were either pro - church, as there is no safe and the church is open daily. The glass vided or altered during the angel was presented by the Price of Peace (Hatherleigh). restoration. There is a piscina in the chancel south wall. The bishop’s chair and an oak chest were stolen on 30th September 1997. Local craftsman Bob Thompson made In 2000, Shebbear potter Clive Bowen this replacement; his wife, Olive, came to help decorate clay tiles fired by made the cushion. him. Bob Thompson made the frame. Hung above the choir stalls, the plaque is The electric organ , made in Bideford, registered with the National Needlework was installed in 1977. Archive to mark millenium needlework.

The model of the church was made by Richard Proctor with a meticulous eye for detail – right down to the kneelers, hymn board, bell ropes, and a willow St Michael. It can be lit inside. It was presented to Meeth Church at our Patronal Service in 2015 and blessed by the Archdeacon in a very moving ceremony. All that remains of the C17 three-deck pulpit is a panelled semi-octagon. A watercolour painting of Rev Everard Lamprière, Rector 1823–1888, in the old pulpit, was damaged by damp. It was restored in 1999 by Susan Crowes, but is no longer on display. The willow figure of St Michael , made by Sally Vick, was presented to Meeth Church in 1999 and restored in 2008. The most eye-catching object in the church faces the door on the north wall of the nave: the plaster arms of Queen Anne (276 x 177cm), likely the work of John Abbot of Frithel - stock. Restored in 1999 by Torquil McNeilage, it is illuminated by a fixed spot. An inscription at the base reads ‘Hannibal Jerman and John Tawton, Church wardens 1704’.

A 1758 slate tablet commemorates former churchwarden Samuel Jerman, who left A marble obelisk from 1843 depicts money in trust for the an angel carrying deceased Prudence village poor, plus 10/- Lamb to heaven. pa for a sermon to be The Great War Roll of Honour preached each year on drawn by C Andrews in 1919– ink on the anniversary of his card behind glass in a plain frame – is burial, 6th December recently restored. (a tradition recently revived). A new prayer corner was set up in 2009 for quiet reflection, private prayer and a chance to light a candle A C17th oak alms box is attached to the south wall by an iron wall stand. The nave has 18 oak pews, C16 with repairs and replacements. Between 1991 to 2014, ladies in the parish made tapestry kneelers for every pew, with red cushions for the choir stalls. In 2000 the Sanctuary-step A square of 131 ancient tiles is cushions and new door-curtain were made. incorporated in the C19th floor of the tower. They were probably laid in 1893. Most are North Devon relief-decorated tiles of the period 1650–1710. Whilst tiles of this type survive in many churches in north-west Devon, this particular set is unusual, since most of the specimens were made at the recently-dis - covered Great Torrington kilns, not the better-known centres of Two of the bells are early medieval, from Exeter, inscribed with a Barnstaple and Bideford. Two cross and the words ‘Ave Maria’ and ‘Ave Maria Gracia’ respectively. tiles, however, are attributable to The other two (1714, by Johannes Stadler of Chulmleigh) are inscribed Bideford’s North Road potteries, ‘Ring me round, I’ll sweetly sound’ and ‘Soli Deo Detur Gloria’ and the Beside the door is an Early and a few plain unstamped ones names of wardens John Lugg and Sam Jerman. All four have six can - English font (1170), with of slightly larger size are also nons intact. The oak frame with timber headstocks is by Henry Stokes corner shafts and a centre present. At least three different of Woodbury, 1902. Rehung and rededicated in 1991, and completely stem; it has a C17 wooden episodes of tiling are therefore refurbished in 2016, the bells are rung regularly for services. cover. represented.