ST LAWRENCE CHURCH, BIGBURY
Parochial Church Council
Bryan Carson, Church Warden, 810296
Alison Chatterton, Treasurer
Cathy Harrington, Safeguarding, 810023
Peter Cook
Vic Gubbins
Jill Gubbins, 810651
Bell Captain
Henry Wainwright, 810991
New & experienced bell ringers, including children, always welcome, please contact Henry for more information.
Vicar:
Curate: The Revd Oli Long, 732007 (not Saturdays)
Readers: Joyce Howitt, 07929 117397; Gil Snook, 07563 663410.
Our services start at St Lawrence’s at 11am every week. Parking is available alongside the churchyard wall, or at busier times extra parking is signposted close by. A monthly calendar of services at all five churches in the Modbury Mission can be found in the Bigbury News or at www.modburyteam.org We look forward to welcoming you to our church family!
History of St Lawrence
A Grade ll* listed church dating back to the 9th Century, St Lawrence’s is the beautiful & spiritual centre of Bigbury parish, home to a rich historic tapestry of features, from Norman artefacts (font, medieval sedilia/priests’ seats, piscina/basin & tomb recess), unique Tudor brass effigies, fixtures from Elizabethan, Georgian & Victorian eras, through to early 20th century stained glass (with inserts of older Tudor work). For about 20 years its peal of six bells could not be rung due to water ingress through the tower & spire weakening the frames but following Covid a concerted effort by the public enabled a restoration to be carried out, allowing the bells to ring again. There is also a genuine ship’s bell, from HMS Bigbury Bay, which was blessed in the church at the end of World War II.
As part of the fundraising for the tower and bells appeal, many events were organised both at the church or locally. Two books were also published, ‘Bigbury Past & Present’ & ‘The Bells of St Lawrence’s Church Bigbury’, available for purchase at Holywell Stores or from Jill Gubbins, 810651.
Bellringing has been revived at St Lawrence’s thanks to the restoration project, with former Bell Captain Harry Bardens passing the bell rope to Henry Wainwright, and bringing residents and visitors enthusiastically together to learn & keep the Devon Call Changes method of bellringing alive.
The church is a precious asset which sits at the heart of Bigbury and relies on the ongoing support of the community to ensure it’s here for future generations.
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