North Brentor Devon
Christchurch, North Brentor Devon  
A small chapel of ease was built in the village in 1825 for the benefit of parishioners who had to worship in St Michael de Rupe which stands on a steep hill a mile away 
This chapel was replaced by the present building in 1856 as a chapel of ease in Lamerton parish until 1880s after which 
it and St Michaels which are linked by road and by footpaths, were finally joined into a single parish -  however Christchurch wasn't licensed for weddings until 1949.   The legal parish church is St Michael's and services are held on alternate weeks in the Summer, Christchurch taking on more in the Winter when traveling to St Michaels is harder.     The district of West Blackdown, in the parish of Mary Tavy, was added to the Brentor parish in 1881.   

It was paid for largely by a bequest in the will of Isabella Holwell of Bonnaford d 1844,  Admiral Octavius Vernon 8th son of the Archbishop of York,  and a Mrs Danby
Built  in the perpendicular style, with shallow chancel, nave, south east vestry, embattled west tower which holds a single bell a survivor from the 1825 chapel,  and  north west porch, at a cost of £1003, it was consecrated by Bishop Phillpotts on 24th September 1857.
It was designed by George Wightwick of Plymouth &amp; built by Richard Gosling of Torquay

Significant restoration and refurbishment work with new oak fittings, was undertaken 1931-36 (including installation of electric lighting);
Further work was done in 1947 when the walls were stripped of their plaster and repointed.
The open timber roof and oak furnishings are simple in design. The font of 1856 <a href="https://www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/9UeQBQ804r">www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/9UeQBQ804r</a> and the beautiful painted reredos <a href="https://www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/jP8D66Xrj5">www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/jP8D66Xrj5</a> are the main features of interest - Opposite the door is the Children’s Corner, is a painting in tempora by Ernest Heasman <a href="https://devonchurchland.co.uk/description/brentor-christ-church-description/#Painting Madonna And Child Children 20th Century Ernest Heasman Brentor" rel="noreferrer nofollow">devonchurchland.co.uk/description/brentor-christ-church-d...</a>  .  The stained glass is by Alfred Beer of Exeter. 

The tower clock, made in 1863, was installed in 1953 to commemorate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. 

Picture with thanks - copyright <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=999175473625881&amp;set=ecnf.100064877916610" rel="noreferrer nofollow">www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=999175473625881&amp;set=ecnf...</a>
north brentor northbrentor church devon