History

History

St.Brannock's church dates from the Norman period and was built in 13th century, on a site that is reputed to have had a place of worship or gathering since AD550. Consequently our claim to have been serving the people of Braunton since AD550 arises! Our recently renovated timber lead-covered spire, being one of only three in North Devon, is capped by a splendid weathercock and in its recently re-gilded state shines in the sunlight.

Our magnificent pews are some of the most complete sets of their kind to be found. These benches were introduced at six intervals between 1560 and 1593. The bench-ends include the usual instruments of the Passion, shields, initials (some of them upside down as a sign of humility by the donors) and some whole figures, but no Renaissance details. A few have been defaced, possibly during the seventeenth century. The pews near the front of the Church depict the life of our patron saint St Brannock. One shows him with a cow, as does one of our painted glass windows as illustrated on the header of the Home page of this web site, and although damaged in our recent catastrophic fire they have been lovingly restored to their original glory. By the careful re siting of some of the pews, we have been able to increase our platform size. It is now rebuilt in local English oak, thus enabling this to be used in a number of innovative ways giving us the facility to use a Nave Altar in front of the rood screen, with the High Altar area still used at most Morning Prayer services.

The roof has a great many painted and gilded bosses, some recently restored after the aforementioned fire which ripped through the organ loft and part of the roof to the immediate area. Thankfully it was well contained by the Fire Service to whom we were and are very grateful.

Returning to the Bosses another shows a sow and her family symbolising how St Brannock was reputed to have located the current Church building. After several futile attempts to build a Church, he was advised in a dream by angels to look for a sow with her piglets and build his Church there, and he duly did.

Our church is not now in the centre of the village, the centre of Braunton having migrated as the village grew. The original Saxon community was built in the direction of the productive lands which we now call the Great Fields. When shipping became a significant part of our village’s employment, the land between the then residential area and the new Quay was used to house the influx of sailors and allied trades. The Church has remained and grown, and still welcomes all from Braunton and beyond!