Overview
The Church of St Mary the Virgin, in Bickington, Devon, England, dates from the fifteenth century. The church is part of the Ashburton benefice, of the Church of England Diocese of Exeter, and the building is Grade I listed.
History
The church dates from the fifteenth century; it is first mentioned in the register of Bishop Lacey in 1420 when it was described as a daughter Church of Ashburton. It is suspected the church is built on a pre-Norman Christian burial ground. The clues being the deviation of an old lane from Chipley to the moor which doglegs past the building, and the circular raised churchyard. The present church was built in 1443, and the north aisle built in the 16th century; although there are references to an earlier church.
Lych gate
The 15th-century lych gate on the south side was rebuilt in 1901. It was designed by the Reverend R. M. Fulford to resemble as near as possible the original gate; the carved beams of the wooden structure were retained but all the rest was replaced. On the east side of the gate is a small chamber on the ground floor, whilst the upper floor is approached by a flight of steps. This room has been used variously to house two of the poor of the parish, as a changing room for the priest-in-charge when he came from Ashburton, as a meeting room by the Mothers Union, a meeting place for the Parochial Church Council, a venue for the youth club and as a cobbler's shop.
Bells
Of the church bells Ellacombe recorded "In 1553 there were at Beckunton 111 belles in the tower”. Two of the bells were recast in the seventeenth century and all the bells were overhauled in 1960 and retuned, quarter turned and rehung in a new wooden frame with new fittings for the hand chimes, this was done by John Taylor of Loughborough. The fifth tenor bell has a crowned headstock. * Tenor Bell - Scobell Nicholas Harell Church Warden 1664 * Fifth Bell - Soli DeoDevtr Gloria I.P. Exon 1664 * Fourth Bell - Cast by John Warner and Sons 1774 and recast in 1888 W Smith Vicar. * Third Bell - AD 1887 * Second Bell - Cast by John Warner. London 1888 W. Smith Vicar. * Treble Bell - Cast by Mears and Stainbank, P H 0 Presbyter 1906–1908.