Buckland Brewer, Devon
Church of St. Mary &amp; St. Benedict , Buckland Brewer Devon

The present building is the 3rd church on this site 
It retains several architectural features from the original church of c1100 including the carved Norman south doorway .  <a href="https://www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/N8810LvJ3h">www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/N8810LvJ3h</a> This first church was destroyed by fire in c1390 
The earliest recorded incumbent, Sir Walter de Denetone, was appointed in 1279. 
The first church was destroyed by fire in c 1390 &amp; was rebuilt c1399, the south aisle being added along with the south porch  in 15c 
It was held by Torre Abbey but was seized by Henry VIII in 1539 since when it has remained in the gift of the Crown . 
The 16c moulded stone priest's door carved with decoration of leaves, branches and shields was deliberately damaged during the 17c English Civil War <a href="https://www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/YM6Qq503X8">www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/YM6Qq503X8</a>   It via a late 19c passageway with a crenellated wall to  the 15c parish schoolroom at the end  (possibly once a chapel dedicated to St. Stephen), now after restoration in 1880 , the parish hall. . 
The church was struck by lightning and greatly damaged by fire in 1769, (pillars near the north east Orleigh Chapel still show fire damage). 
The church was hit by severe storms in 1877 leading to the restorations of 1878 to 1880 when the nave, south aisle and chancel were extensively restored and refurbished by architect Samuel Hooper of Hatherleigh.  The 14c Orleigh chapel and tower are the oldest parts of the second building. 

The 15c three-stage west tower is 76 feet high has 6 bells which were recast in the village in 1825 and again in 1899 by John Taylor of Loughborough, bellfounder who was born in the village and is commemorated by a brass plaque <a href="https://www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/9sx573jA9d">www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/9sx573jA9d</a>   The bells are of such quality that visiting teams travel from long distances to ring them.

In the Orleigh Chapel are elaborate wall monument to John Davie 1710, wife Mary 1709 &amp; daughter in law Juliana Pryce who died of smallpox in 1720 <a href="https://www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/5cn12NWH30">www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/5cn12NWH30</a>
Phillip Vening aged 6 who died in 1658 <a href="https://flic.kr/p/wdywod" rel="noreferrer nofollow">flic.kr/p/wdywod</a>
Anthony Dennis 1641 &amp; second wife Gertrude Grenville with his 1st wife &amp; all his children below. <a href="https://www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/30188JvNNF">www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/30188JvNNF</a>
There is also a memorial to Major Edward Lee who acquired the estate from the great grandson of John Davie either by purchase of a win at cards <a href="https://www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/999252Db9P">www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/999252Db9P</a>

The south aisle has a stone tablet monument to Midshipman William Radford Caddy who drowned in 1823 while attempting to rescue a colleague while serving on HMS Windsor Castle and above is another to his father John Caddy 1822 



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