Buckland Touts Saints, Devon
Church of St Peter, Buckland Touts Saints, Devon
The village name meaning 'Tout-Sain' meaning 'all whole' or 'all healed' of the Toutsaints family, lords of the manor from 13c until the 16c when the manor was sold to the Southcott family in 1587 who in 1600 built the current Buckland House nearby.

St. Peter's began with a chapel of ease known to be in existence by 1426, in the grounds belonging to the lord of the manor for the use of the family and his servants.  Other parishioners came here to worship by 1683, but in 1782 it was recorded that it had &quot;long lain in ruins.&quot;
John Henry Southcote further extended Buckland House and in 1778 rebuilt the present church to serve the family and staff and the villages of Goveton and Ledstone.   . A path connected it to Buckland House  via a kissing gate still in situ. The church was consecrated in 1779.  Built in a simple cruciform design with a continuous nave &amp; chancel, north &amp; south transepts &amp; a two stage west tower, there was no porch and no vestry.   The inner door of the present porch was the door of entry.
John Henry Southcote also gave the single bell in 1779 
On his death in 1793 the estate, of 1,200 acres, was sold to William Clark a wealthy brewer and businessman. The house is now a luxury hotel. <a href="https://www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/R4wR49pE91">www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/R4wR49pE91</a>

By 1841 it had once more fallen into disrepair and it was not until 1889 that it was restored.  During this time Goveton School, formerly a mission chapel, was used instead 
 The 22nd September 1890 edition of the 'Western Morning News' reported its reopening,  &quot;A porch and a new floor laid with the contractor's patented wood blocks&quot;. (To be seen in between the pews and in the North and South transepts.) &quot;It has been re-seated, with new windows in the perpendicular style.   A new stained glass window placed in the East (above the altar), was the gift of Annie Brunskill Irwin 1854 - 1910 +++ of Buckland House.&quot;  (dedicated to her first husband, William Fawcett Brunskill, who died 5th December 1875, aged 26 years and their sons, William Fawcett Brunskill 1887 aged 15 years, and Arthur Edward Brunskill 1875, aged 5 months 2 weeks).  <a href="https://www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/5X8LVzs334">www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/5X8LVzs334</a>  
The windows depicting Faith, Hope, Charity &amp; Love in the North and South transepts are dedicated to +++  Annie who had m2 Edward Irwin of Derrygore d 1880 <a href="https://www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/5U0z5w96qb">www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/5U0z5w96qb</a> <a href="https://www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/446i0EJ079">www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/446i0EJ079</a>
The memorial plaques in the North and South transepts and the nave commemorate William &amp; Arthur Fawcett Brunskill,  Ernest &amp; Matilda Clark,  Herbert Morgan,  Henry Clark Cole. and Charles &amp; Anice Warden, 
When the churchyard was consecrated in 1903, on land given by Hubert Brunskill son of William Fawcett Brunskill &amp; Annie +++ , the present surrounding wall was built with stone from the demolished Lodge at the west end of Buckland House drive.   Before this burials had taken place in the grounds of Buckland House and latterly at East Allington.

Inside the brass cross (brought out for Sunday services) was obtained in 1924.   The lectern was brought up from Goveton School, when it closed in 1926.   Sadly the present one is a replacement as the original was stolen in 1996.   
The organ was donated by Major H D Legge, churchwarde 1966 - 1979 
The church used to be heated by a solid fuel boiler.  Electricity was installed in 1956.   Prior to this, the church was lit by oil lamps which still hang in place today. The tapestry communion kneelers in front of the altar, were dedicated on 2nd July, 1989, the quincentenary of the birth of Thomas Cranmer. They portray the life of the parish:

The church is kept open all day and is regularly visited by walkers who from the comments in the visitors’ book appreciate its peace and quiet.

The guide says;  &quot;A service is normally held in the church every Sunday, either a Sunday Worship Service or Holy Communion with a joint service in one of the churches of the Benefice when there are five Sundays in the month.   We celebrate the four country services of Plough Sunday, Rogationtide, Lammastide and Harvest Thanksgiving.   We have one regular organist and two services a month are led by lay members of the congregation incorporating an audio recording of the Rev Mark Neave’s sermon for that week. The church is a Fairtrade Church and supports Christian Aid; Médecins Sans Frontières; The Mission to Seafarers; British Legion; The Farming Community Network; Prison Fellowship; Coleridge Community Bus; Kingsbridge and Saltstone Caring; the Kingsbridge Food Bank; and St Luke's Hospice&quot;.  

Picture with thanks - copyright Chris Downer CCL <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1466094" rel="noreferrer nofollow">www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1466094</a>
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