Saint Mary Magdalene Church, Chulmleigh, Devon.

15th-Century Saint Mary Magdalene Church,

Chulmleigh, Devon.

Text and Illustrations from DEVON CHURCH LAND

Rattling along the Taw Valley, Northwards to Barnstaple, Chulmleigh passes by in a flash of signposts pointing up the Valley side, as if to a hinterland Village lost in the deep rural since time began.

Which is as wrong as wrong can be. The Valley Road is only about two hundred years old, low roads were never a thing before, marsh and flooding being the usual culprits; Chulmleigh used to sit on the main route, a major Town and and an ancient Parish.

Whilst this Victorian-ear Aumbry [a place for storing 

the Eucharistic implements or Sacred Books, which is 

recessed into the wall of a Church], is a true beauty, 

recalling a miniature Church with its Columns (Devon Marble), Gothic Arch, and Tracery. The Foliage Carving, below, is an added bonus.

With of course a cracking Church, this, too, with deep history.

The present Church is mainly 15th-Century, restored in the 19th-Century, and some evidence of a previous 11th- or 12th-Century Church before; likely enough a pre-Norman Saxon establishment was here before. Some claim it was a Saxon Minster, a centre of Christianity supporting a number of Priests who Preached in the surrounding Countryside and cared for Souls.

The jury is out on this claim, but we do know that it was a Collegiate Church later, with six Canons or Prebends, one of them being the Rector, whose job was to maintain the cycle of Services and Devotions each and every day.

Beautiful Lettering in The Creed.

There would have been a few Altars scattered around the Church, including the Lady Chapel, all with their correct Cycle of Services, along with various Festival and Holy Days to observe, plus Chapels further afield to look after.

Stained-Glass Window depicting Saint Cecilia, 

Patroness of Music.

Stained-Glass Window depicting the Nativity.

The proper meaning of Christmas.

For all this, back in 1291, their taxable income was £8 13s 4d [Editor: Circa £8,000 in 2024], according to an assessment by Pope Nicolas IV, which is a good deal more than it sounds, probably does not take into account a fair amount of the Tithes (paid in goods).

Encaustic floor tiles.

The Chapel of Our Lady in Chulmleigh was remembered in 1567 as having received “great” oblations [offerings brought by Pilgrims] (Medieval Chapels in Devon: Jeanne James).