1086 No mention was made of any Church at Holsworthy in the Domesday Book, the nearest being at Bridgerule and Hollacombe.
1088 Evidence of Church at Clawton dedicated to St Leonard.
1130 Approximate date of remains of a small Norman Oratory found on the site of the nave in the present Church at Holsworthy.
1250 An Early English style Church was built to replace the original building.
1268 Bishop Bronescombe visited Holsworthy Church.
1270 1270-1282 Henry de Halleswordi instituted as Rector at Holsworthy.
1274 Advowson of Holsworthy Church owned by Sir Payn de Chaworth was worth ÂŁ13 .6. 8.
1282 Geoffrey de Lincolnia instituted as Rector of Holsworthy.
1285 Statute of Winchester ordered that Fairs and Markets were to be no longer held in Church Yards.
1366 Further alterations carried out on Parish Church
1377 Henry and Elizabeth Thorne granted a licence for a Chapel at Thorne.
1400 Further licence granted for Chapel at Thorne.
1413 October 4th. Bishop Stafford granted a licence to Thomas and Joan Raymond, and their son Raymond, to have divine service in their Manor Chapel of “Symeston” (Simpson).
1420 1420—1461 Further licence given for Chapel at Simpson.
1424 Further license for Manor Chapel at Simpson granted to John and Margery Cokkeworthy.
1450 Holsworthy Church restored and rebuilt during Bishop Lacey’c episcopate.
1450 Trewyn Chantry Chapel moved to the site of the South Aisle of the present Church.
1549 Archbishop Cramner drew up the first English Prayer Book.
1553 Three bells, Little, Middle and Great were in Holsworthy Church Tower.
1553 Edward VI owned Chilsworthy Chapel. More about
Edward VI Images of
Edward VI1555 Beginning of persecution of Protestants.
1560 Queen Elizabeth presented the Manor of Holsworthy to the Rectory, and also in 1562 and 1563. More about
Elizabeth I Images of
Elizabeth I1576 This date is shown on the bottom of the cover of the Chalice in Holsworthy Church
1625 Sir Humphrey Prideaux born, he married in 1663 and died In 1692. He is buried in Sutcombe church.
1625 The church organ now in Holsworthy church was built for All Saints church in Chelsea.
1675 Memorial stained glass window to John Cory, a Mercer, placed in the South Aisle of the Church.
1689 Dunstaple first mentioned in church records.
1690 John Ryall paid for keeping the church clock.
1692 Bell ringers paid 2s.9d. for ringing to celebrate victory over the French at the Battle of The Hague 19th May, also for oil and candles.
1694 Little, Middle and Great bells hung in church tower.
1698 Society for the Propagation of Christian Knowledge founded.
1706 Bell ringers paid 5s.0d. for ringing for the victory of Duke of Malborough at the battle of Ramillies.
1707 Church clock changed at a cost of £5. 15s.0d., a man called Hammott was paid 8d. for a days work.
1722 Churchwardens paid John Gimlett 5s.0d. for keeping out dogs from the church.
1723 Church organ bought by Bideford Corporation and given to their Parish Church.
1727 Five tuneable bells in church tower.
1739 The beginning of Methodism, founded by John and Charles Wesley.
1778 Roger Kingdon gave Paten for church plate.
1806 First Methodist Society in Holsworthy formed.
1808 Repairs carried out to the church in a manner very injurious to the fabric.
1815 19th May. William 0'Bryan, founder of the Bible Christian Connexion, first preached in Holsworthy.
1817 Wesleyan Chapel founded.
1820 Land acquired on which to build the Wesleyan Chapel.
1828 Independant Chapel founded, it opened in 1836.
1828 First Chilsworthy Chapel built.
1836 Eight new bells made for church by Thomas Mears of London.
1839 Rev.R. Kingdon sold the advowson to Rev. Henry Frederick
1840 First School Room established in the Bible Christian Chapel.
1841 Bible Christians erected first Chapel in Bodmin Street.
1842 Area of churchyard enlarged when cottages at the North East of churchyard were demolished.
1842 Tithe Book published.
1844 Bible Christian Chapel licensed for marriages.
1848 Holsworthy Rural Deanery changed from Totnes Archdeanery to Barnstaple Archdeanery.
1856 Church House was established to house the poor.
1858 Ann Hart’s will gave £580 3% Consols on Trust, the income to support The National School and the same sum to support the Poor House, also the income from ÂŁ100 to support the Church Sunday School.
1865 “Holsworthy Bells” was written by Dr. Samuel Sebastian Wesley, organist at Exeter Cathedral, and was played at the dedication service.
1865 Weslyan Methodists erected Chapel Street Chapel.
1865 Church organ bought from Bideford Church at a cost of £300
1869 Church clock changed at a cost of £80.
1870 Bible Christian Chapel at Anvil Corner first mentloned but it had been there for some time as the first baptism record is dated 1857.
1876 New Bible Christian Chapel in Bodmin Street licensed.
1876 Francis Thorn Honey died, the Vestry window is dedicated to his memory.
1879 Holsworthy was reported by The Devon Records Office as being top of the league for church weddings. Unfortunately the number is not stated.
1879 May 13th. Foundation stones laid for new Bible Christian Chapel at St Giles in the Heath.
1882 Rev. Thornton dedicated St Mary’s Well, on the glebe land at the top of Victoria Hill.
1882 Sundial on the wall of the Church was removed during restoratlon.
1882 Organ chamber added to Church.
1883 1883–1904. John Aspinall carved the oak pulpit in the Church. It was presented to the Church by his family in his memory.
1884 North Aisle added to the Church.
1884 Alterations to and reseating of the Church. ÂŁ2,250 was spent by Rev Thornton of his own money, in memory of his parents. Bosses and carved angels in the roof are the work of John Northcott of Ashwater, also the choir stalls. During the restoration a human skeleton is said to have been found. Font in the Church was built at a cost of ÂŁ30.
1886 New Chapels built at Chilsworthy and Soldon Cross.
1887 St George’s Well and St James’s Well first mentioned in town.
1890 May 31st. North East pinnacle of the church was struck by lightning on Whit Monday.
1892 Window in chancel dedicated to Francis Fry who died this year.
1896 Trustees of John Vowler’s widow sold Chilsworthy National School house and teachers house to the Rector and trustees for £105.
1897 £347 paid out for bells account.
1914 Holsworthy Church tower was struck by lightning, a pinnacle fell to the ground, but luckily no one was hurt.
1924 Brass processional cross given to the church by Dr. E.O.Kingdon.
1924 April 24th. Grand Floral Bazaar at Holsworthy Weslyan Church in Chapel Street.
1926 Holsworthy Urban District Council supplied the Lytch Gate for the cemetery which was presented by Miss E.E.Batten in memory of her parents.
1926 Oak reredos in the church was erected in memory of Mary Elizabeth Aspinall of Waterloo House by her children.
1926 Church organ refurbished at a cost of ÂŁ200 and rededicated.
1928 "1st November Rev. Thomas Samuel Kendall died. Advowson sold for ÂŁ1,100
1930 New silver paten, inscribed SS Peter and Paul Holsworthy 1930, was presented to the church.
1931 Two altar candle sticks were dedicated to the memory of Mrs. Cornelius.
1932 Church clock overhauled and repaired.
1945 Crucifix on the organ in Church was carved by an Italian prisoner of war.
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