PLYMOUTH
DATA

The Encyclopaedia of Plymouth History

ANCIENT PARISH CHURCHES

CHURCH OF St MARY, PLYMPTON

The Church of St Mary is situated at the the junction of Ridgeway and Market Road, Plympton, Plymouth. Originally the Church came under the control of the Prior of Plympton, whose Priory was beside of the Church.  St Mary's Church is built in the Decorated and Perpendicular styles and consist of a chancel, nave, aisles, transept, and south porch.

The embattled, western tower, which is 180 feet tall, contains eight bells of varying dates between 1614 and 1868 and a clock.  the clock was restored in 1889 with a new dial presented by Mr George Coaker of Plym Villa.  The tower was partially rebuilt in 1913.  There is a memorial window to Edmund, the 2nd Earl of Morley, Lord of the Manor, who died on August 28th 1864.

In the churchyard there is a large cross erected by public subscription to the memory of the Reverend Merton Smith MA, who was the vicar here between 1872 and 1884.

Just over 1 acre of the lands formerly belonging to Plympton Priory was restored to the Church of St Mary on Friday October 28th 1921 when the Bishop of Exeter, the Lord William Cecil, consecrated -- or perhaps re-consecrated -- its use as an addition to the churchyard.  It's southern border was the old orchard belonging to the Priory.  The vicar of Plympton St Nary at that time was the Reverend J Mercer Cox.

The records of the parish are held at the Plymouth and West Devon Records Office, Clare Place, Coxside, Plymouth.

©  Brian Moseley, Plymouth, UK

Page updated:  5 July 2008

Any problems viewing this webpage should be notified to the webmaster at plymouthdata dot info