Chittlehampton Devon
Church of St Hieritha. Chittlehampton Devon sited at the place of 8c St Hieritha's martyrdom where pilgrims flocked to a small chapel.
The list of vicars prior to 1240 is not recorded, up to that year they had been appointed by the Abbey of Tewkesbury to which the endowment belonged.   In March 1240, the rectory and the vicarage were united and one incumbent held both, named as Master William de Stanewaye,  (since this date the list of vicars is complete, but now they are vicars only).  
The registers date from 1575.
The present church was completely rebuilt between 1470 and 1520 in an elaborate manner for a small village, probably aided with the offerings of the pilgrims. 
It consists of a chancel, nave, north and south aisles, north and south transepts, south porch, and a west tower with eight bells, considered the finest in the county and is mentioned in a local saying;   &quot;North Molton for strength,   South Molton for length,   Chittlehampton for beauty.&quot;

Most of the wagon roofs still retain their 15c timbers, decorated with elaborately carved bosses <a href="https://www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/r759e1yS3A">www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/r759e1yS3A</a> with gold winged angels holding shields <a href="https://www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/2KhVuk6591">www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/2KhVuk6591</a>

The c1500 stone pulpit is very similar to that at Swimbridge of the same date. <a href="https://www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/R3E3310007">www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/R3E3310007</a>

The north and south transepts &amp; aisles each have an ornate  monument marking the vaults of the benefactor family - the Giffards in the north <a href="https://www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/eM854b292e">www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/eM854b292e</a> &amp; the Rolle family in the south. <a href="https://www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/86691RJ1W0">www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/86691RJ1W0</a> 
Also in the Giffard Chapel is a reclining effigy of Grace Giffard 1667 <a href="https://flic.kr/p/BU9tYv" rel="noreferrer nofollow">flic.kr/p/BU9tYv</a>  &quot;hiere buried&quot;  (as she desired) by her father and mother, the 11th day of November, 1667, anno ætatis 27.

The capitals of the pillars on the south side of the nave are carved with leaves, fruit and faces looking down , <a href="https://www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/o74Ny01m2g">www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/o74Ny01m2g</a> , those on the north side are plain. 

Under the tower is an ancient parish chest with the usual three locks. <a href="https://www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/F8oA7y9G57">www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/F8oA7y9G57</a>

The south porch has an old oak roof <a href="https://www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/z8KP79Y20A">www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/z8KP79Y20A</a>  and a massive oak door with sanctuary knocker. 

On the floor in front of the pulpit are figures in brass of John Cobleigh and his two wives Isabella and Johanna, with his daugher or heiress grand daughter below   <a href="https://flic.kr/p/CJdiyp" rel="noreferrer nofollow">flic.kr/p/CJdiyp</a>

All restored in a  major restoration completed in 1872. 

The kneelers were embroidered to mark the Millennium.   <a href="https://www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/849g6S7731">www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/849g6S7731</a>

A modern kitchenette and toilet were added in 2014, making the building a more versatile venue.  

The old churchyard cross was restored as a memorial of Archdeacon Seymour, who at one time was vicar [1890-1906].

The story of Hieritha's death and the healing waters that sprang up where she was martyred is similar to several other stories of early saints. This has led some historians to suggest that Hieritha was actually killed by a band of Saxon raiders from Somerset.
Her statue stands under a canopied niche on the tower wall <a href="https://flic.kr/p/b6WTRF" rel="noreferrer nofollow">flic.kr/p/b6WTRF</a> carrying a scythe in one hand and her own head in the other., and the site of her grave is marked inside to the north of the chancel.  <a href="https://www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/n687oz382B">www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/n687oz382B</a> 
Hieritha, or St Urith as she is sometimes called, was a little known 7th-century saint born at Stowford, in north Devon. She may have been converted to Christianity by missionaries from the Abbey at Glastonbury, who began arriving in north Devon by the 6th century.
Traditional says that when the village was struck by drought, Hieritha's stepmother feared that the drought was caused by her step-daughter's new faith and she incited several haymakers to decapitate Hieritha with their scythes.
On the spot where Hieritha fell, a stream burst forth from the earth and scarlet pimpernels began to blossom. The stream fed into a well, whose waters were reputed to have healing properties. A chapel was built on the site of Hieritha's murder, and became a focus for pilgrims whose money probably helped rebuild the church in the 1470s 
In the 1950s the North Devon Water Board decided that the well was a risk to public health and had it concreted over . A manhole cover was inserted to give access to the well, which is blessed annually by the vicar on 8 July. The villagers periodical re-enact 'their' saint's martyrdom in pageants.

  - Picture with thanks - copyright   <a href="https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/1995865/st.-hieritha's-churchyard#view-photo=121414612" rel="noreferrer nofollow">www.findagrave.com/cemetery/1995865/st.-hieritha%27s-chur...</a>
chittlehampton devon cburch