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This is the twenty-eighth item from Robert Dymond’s book: “Things New and Old Concerning the Parish of Widecombe-in-the-Moor and its Neighbourhood” (1876)

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Restoration of the Parish Church of St Pancras WIDECOMBE-IN-THE-MOOR.

THIS ancient and very interesting Church, the Cathedral of Dartmoor,is a good specimen of early perpendicular, with a grand tower not unlike the well-known tower of Magdalen College, Oxford. It is, perhaps, the finest tower in Devon, and was erected, it is said, by tin- streamers of the 15th or 16th century, as a thank offering to GOD for their success in the neighbourhood.

There is a very interesting contemporary account in the Harleian Miscellany, of a severe storm which did much damage here in 1638, which appears in another page.

The population — moorland, very scattered — is about 450, principally poor, but the Church is used by many outlying parishioners of Lidford,their own parish Church being many miles distant from them. A district — Leusden — with a population of about the same number, has within the last few years been separated from the mother parish, and a Church and residence for Clergyman, with endowment, and Schools, have been provided by a lady well acquainted with the necessities of this wide moorland district.

The Church having, through past neglect, been allowed to fall into a. state of dilapidation and decay, strenuous efforts have been madeduring the present and late incumbency to collect funds for its restoration, but it is found quite impossible to complete it, situated as the parish is in the midst of a waste moorland district, by local efforts.

The whole rateable value of this large district, including Leusden, over 10,614 acres, is only £4,606, and the net income of the Incumbent £270.

Several Visitors to the place, quite unsolicited, and having nointerest in the parish, having been struck by the sad condition of the Church, have tendered their assistance to the Vicar. It is at their suggestion that this appeal is sent forth, and it is hoped that some of those who have already subscribed will be disposed to give further assistance.

The Chancel was put in repair by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, the impropriators of the Great Tithes, during a former Incumbency.

A list of subscriptions raised since the work of restoration was begun is appended ; but, the Church being very large, more funds are required to complete the work now in progress, in accordance with the plans and specifications of the Architect, Mr. James Hine, F. R. I. B. A.

An appeal for more money is therefore made to the churchmen of the Diocese and others interested in the work, and it is earnestly hoped that a speedy and liberal response to it will relieve the Committee of the necessity of suspending the work for want of the requisite funds.

Contributions will be thankfully received by the Ven. Archdeacon Earle, West Alvington Vicarage, Kingsbridge; B. J. P. Bastard,Esq., Buckland Court, near Ashburton ; T. Blackall, Esq.,M.D., 13, Southernhay, Exeter; R. Dymond, Esq., Bampfylde House, Exeter; F. H. Firth, Esq., Cator Court, near Ashburton; Miss Houstoun, Holne Chase, near Ashburton; R. Kitson, Esq., Torquay Bank,Torquay; Mrs. Larpent, Leusden, near Ashburton; or by the Vicar, the Rev. J. Williams, Widecombe, near Ashburton.

SUBSCRIPTION LIST – PART 1.

	£	s	d		£	s	d
By a Bazaar at Torquay	310			Fred.West, Esq.(2nd don.)	10
By Amateur Concert at Torquay	30			Sale of Coins (Miss Houston)
By a Bazaar at Bovey	30			Sale of Work (per Miss Arnold)
In memory of Mark Kennaway	100			Harvest Festival, 1875
The late Mark Kennaway, Esq.	60			Lignum
B. J. P. Bastard, Esq.	50			The Right Hon. Lord Coleridge
F. West, Esq.	50			Binford Selwood, Esq.
Rev. J. Williams	50			Lord Blachford
Antony Gibbs, Esq.	50			W. Marshall, Esq.
T. Blackall, Esq., M.D	40			F. C. Bryant, Esq.
Rev. W. B. Kennaway	29	10		F. H. Firth, Esq.(2nd don.)
‘ In Memoriam,’ G. Kennaway	25			Albert Grant, Esq.
The late Sir T. Acland, Bart.	20	10		A Friend (per Miss Arnold)
The Dean and Chapter of Exeter	20			Do. (per Rev. J. Williams)
Sale of Work (per Lady Kathrine Buchanan)	18			Mrs. Willoughby
Rev. W. B. Kennaway. “In Memoriam G.G.K.”	20			C. Millar, Esq, M.D.
E. Cazalet, Esq.	20			The late W. Gibbs, Esq.
Harvest Thanksgivings, 1869-74	17	11		Lady Acland
F. H. Firth, Esq.	15	15		Miss Whitter
Sale of Work (per Miss Houstoun)	15	15		Serjeant Cox
Mrs. Larpent	15			Rev. P. Cornish
The late Ven. Archdeacon Freeman	12			A. Champernowne, Esq.
Rev. R. Champernowne	11			Mrs. (Serjeant) Cox
The Ven. Arch. Earle	10	10		John Divett, Esq.
W. S. Hodgkinson, Esq., Wells	10	10		John E. Lee, Esq.
The late Sir W. P. Carew, Bart.	10			H. C. M. Phillipps, Esq.
Sir T.D.Acland,Bart ,M.P.	10			R. Dvmond, Esq.
F. Fletcher, Esq.	10			Mr. George Tully
Colonel Rous, Courtyrala, Glamorgan	10			R. Thornton West, Esq
Mrs. Beckett	10			John Stone, Esq.
The Lord Bishop of Exeter	10			Miss Houstoun
Rev. C. C. Turner	10			Miss Warrington, Torquay
Mrs. Drake	10			Mrs. Freeman, Exeter
The late J. Bryant, Esq.	10			J. N. Bennett, Esq.
The Misses Carew	10			Mrs. Lloyd
				Mrs. Harris
				Rev. G. F. Bullock
				Mrs. W. Buller
				C. H. Turner, Esq.
				Leusden Church Offertory 30th August, 1874
				Collecting Box at Heatree		16
				Sale of Work (Miss Whitter)		17
				Box in Church		12
				W. & C. Kitson (fee on Building Contract)

SUBSCRIPTION LIST – PART 2.

	£	s	d		£	s	d
Maurice Grant, Esq.				Edgar Crespin. Esq.
Miss Rous, Courtyrala				Rev. Percival Jackson
E. J. Gillman, Esq.		10		J. Bowden, Esq., Blackheath
Mr. John French		10		R. G. Abraham, Esq.
Sir J. H. Kennaway, Bart., M.P.				W. Bowman, Esq., London
Rev. Canon Cook				F. Drake, Exeter
C. J. Parkes, Esq.				Miss Glossop
Evan Powell, Esq.				Miss Bertha Glossop
Hon. and Rev. C. Courtenay				Mrs. Tosswill
Henry Tozer, Esq.				Mr. H. Hems
W. Lyne Fear, Esq.				Mr. P. Michelmore
Rev Preb. Acland				J. E. (Parishioner)
W. J. Cock, Esq.				G. F. King, Esq.
R. Greenwav, Esq.				Dr. Westall
Rev. J. T. Fisher				Rev. E. G. Sandford
Edward Green Esq.				W. Rogers. Esq., M.D.
Elphinstone Holloway, Esq.				J. T. Clover, Esq.
The Ven. Archdeacon Huxtable				J. L. Shadwell, Esq.
R. Durant, Esq.				G. G. Johnston, Esq.
Sir R. R. Torrens, M.P				Miss Dilkes
Mrs. Downall, Exeter				Rev. L. P. Welland
Winslow Jones, Esq.				Miss H. L. Kitson
The late E. H. Phillips, Esq., M.D., Bath				A Friend (R)
Miss Hirtzel				G. Burdon, Esq.
W. Kitson, Esq.				Misses Cartwright
W. W. Buller, Esq.				Rev. C. Chapman
Rev. W. H. Thornton				Miss Matthews
Jas. Bromfield, Esq.,Usk, Monmouth				Mrs. Henry Palk
The Hon. Mrs. Arbuthnot				Mrs. Ryder
Mrs. Auldjo				Mrs. $argent
C.Cazalet, Esq.				Rev. J. M. Ware
Rev. C. A. Hoggan				John Hankey. Esq.
J. Luscombe, Esq., Combe Royal				Rev. W. C. Gibbs
Miss lsabella Martin				Rev. C. Worthy
Rev. F. A. Savile				— Windeatt
Rev. W. J. Smithwick				Alfred Hingston, Esq.
Work sold (per Mrs. Larpent)		15		Miss Treby
Rev. W. F. Gray				Mrs. Matthews
Rev. F. Ensor				Mr. W. Upcott
Mrs. Ann Tyrrell				James Donelan, Esq.
Rev. Geo. Morris				A. T. Binney, Esq.		15
C. A. Bentinck, Esq.				Mr. John Watson		10
Sale of Work (per Mrs. W. Kitson)				G. W. Ormerod. Esq.		10
Alms Chest				Rev. Arthur Fletcher		10
J. Vicary, Esq.				Miss Ellen Ware		10
W. Mitchell, Esq., Solicitor, Edinburgh				C. Wilton, Esq.		10
Mallaby Firth, Esq.				A Well Wisher, Ashburton		10
The Baroness De Verte				G. E. Hearder, Esq.		10
Messrs. Colborne & Ward				Rev. H. Ware		10
T. Patrick, Esq.				J. Webber, Esq.		10
				Miss E. Buller		10
				Mrs. Husson
				John Baskevil (Flyman)
				Miss Cole
				Miss Jameson
				W. Aggett
				R. Hannaford, Pitton
				A Friend
W. J. Owen Tucker Esq., a granite Pulpit.
Miss Dyott, Torquay, Utrecht velvet Altar Cloth.
John Stone, Esq., a lightning Conductor.