Ottery St Mary Parish Church

Description

The church is a place in the community where everyone can find a home. Apart for its welcoming approach the local Parish church also host regular events for both old and young alike.

Its build takes us back around 700 years and despite its many beautiful and historic features, it is still primarily a place of worship with a large and lively congregation.
When visiting the Church you will be able to find useful guides in several languages to facilitate your visit around the Church highlighting its historic features.

The present edifice is largely the work of John de Grandisson, Bishop of Exeter (1312-1369), who built it in 1342, as a “Collegiate Church”, on the lines of Exeter Cathedral. This accounts for its large size for a relatively small town. The north Dorset aisle was added about 1520, since then there have been no major additions, although most of the peripheral buildings, e.g. the cloisters, have long since gone and recently some really well furbished toilets fitted on the side of the church.

In 1545 the College of Priests was dissolved by decree of King Henry VIII and the buildings and treasures surrendered to his Commissioners. In the same year, by Letters Patent, he established the four Governors of the “Hereditaments and Goods” of the Church of St. Mary of Ottery and gave them
the church with the responsibility of maintaining it. Seven years later eight Assistant Governors were appointed. The Governors and Assistants are still active in discharging that responsibility with the co-operation of the Parochial Church Council.

Well worth a visit.