St Blaise Haccombe

St Blaise Haccombe

St. Blaise, Haccombe

Photograph of St Blaise church in the village of Haccombe.The little church of St. Blaise merits two stars in Simon Jenkins’ “England’s Thousand Best Churches” (Penguin 1999). It was built in 1233 by Sir Stephen de Haccombe on his return from the Fifth Crusade. He gave it the name of St. Blaise, a 4th-century Armenian Bishop and Martyr whose fame he had encountered in the East.

The church has been associated with the Carew family for over 500 years, and is noted for its fine collection of Mediaeval effigies, including that of its crusader founder, and an unusual alabaster effigy marking a heart burial. There are five fine brasses, which cover the period 1469 to 1656, Mediaeval and Moorish floor-tiles, and Flemish glass. Pieces of wood from Henry VIII’s flagship ‘Mary Rose’ are set into the processional cross.

A service is held every Sunday, at which the Book of Common Prayer is used. The church is open on Wednesday afternoons between April and September, from 2.00-4.00pm.

Enquiries concerning Holy Baptisms, Weddings or Funerals should be addressed to Rev Andrew Down, tel (office) 01626 3343457 or 01803 813403, email: rev.andrewdown@gmail.com.

Churchwarden:
Mr Andrew Cooper, Tel: 01626 872310