Church of the Holy Cross, Crediton

The Church of the Holy Cross in Crediton is the parish church of the town of Crediton in Devon, in south-west England. It is a Grade I listed building, the highest level of protection in England, and its roots reach back more than a thousand years. It suits anyone interested in medieval church history and Gothic architecture.

What is the history of the church in Crediton?

Written records of a church on this site go back to the early 10th century, and a cathedral was probably built here around that time. If an 11th-century copy of a charter dated 739 is genuine, the place can be traced almost two centuries earlier still. For a period the site served as the cathedral of the Bishop of Crediton, who led the former diocese. Around 1050 the see was moved to Exeter.

A community of canons stayed behind in Crediton and kept running the buildings and the life of the church. That is why it is called a collegiate church. Its full formal name is the Collegiate Church of the Holy Cross and the Mother of Him Who Hung Thereon. A Norman church was being built in the 1130s, when the college was established.

What happened after the Reformation?

During the Reformation the college was dissolved. The church was surrendered to Henry VIII in 1545 and the canons dispersed. The buildings were then bought by the Crediton Town Corporation, which still looks after the fabric today. It is an unusual arrangement in which the local community is responsible for the upkeep of a major church.

What does the architecture look like?

Most of the present building dates from the early 15th century and is in the Perpendicular Gothic style, typical of late medieval England. Some parts are older: the central tower is from the 12th or 13th century, and the Lady Chapel from the 13th or 14th century.

The plan includes:

• a two-bay chancel with side aisles,
• a three-bay Lady Chapel at the east end,
• a six-bay aisled nave with a clerestory,
• transepts and a central crossing tower,
• a chapter house to the south-east,
• a south porch.

The south side is regarded as the show front. In the second half of the 19th century the church underwent major restoration, carried out between 1848 and 1877 by John Hayward of Exeter.

What else is worth seeing?

The church is associated with St Boniface, the missionary traditionally linked with the Crediton area. Inside, a modern sculpture depicts his life. A gravestone of Thomas Dowrish dated 1464 also survives in the church, a reminder of how long burials have taken place here.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the Church of the Holy Cross? In the town of Crediton, in the Mid Devon district of Devon, England, at roughly 50.79 N, 3.65 W.

Was it once a cathedral? Yes. A cathedral of the Bishop of Crediton stood here until about 1050, when the see moved to Exeter.

How old is the building? Most of the structure is early 15th century, the central tower is older (12th to 13th century), and the Lady Chapel dates from the 13th or 14th century.

Who looks after it? Since the buildings were bought after the Reformation, the Crediton Town Corporation has administered the fabric.

Who is it for? Visitors to Devon who enjoy history, Gothic architecture and the medieval story of the English Church, and who want to see a landmark with such a long tradition.