Heanton Punchardon

from

Some Old Devon Churches

By J. Stabb

London: Simpkin et al (1908-16)

Page 115

Transcribed and edited by Dr Roger Peters

Full text available at

https://www.wissensdrang.com/dstabb.htm

Prepared by Michael Steer

Between 1908 and 1916, John Stabb, an ecclesiologist and photographer who lived in Torquay, published three volumes of Some Old Devon Churches and one of Devon Church Antiquities. A projected second volume of the latter, regarded by Stabb himself as a complement to the former, did not materialize because of his untimely death on August 2nd 1917, aged 52. Collectively, Stabb's four volumes present descriptions of 261 Devon churches and their antiquities.

HEANTON PUNCHARDON. St. Augustine. The parish is called after Robert de Punchardon, who came over with William the Conqueror [r. 1066-1087], and received the Manor of Heanton from Baldwin the Sheriff. His descendants in the direct male line held the manor till the end of the 13th century, when Sir John Punchardon divided his estates between his three daughters.

The church, which is Early English, was thoroughly restored in 1889. It consists of chancel, nave, north aisle, south porch, and embattled west tower containing six bells. The rood screen has been restored [plate 115a], but a good deal of the original work remains. The portion across the nave is complete with groining, cornices, cresting and doors.

The chapel on the north side of the chancel contains several handsome monuments to the Bassett family who at one time resided at Heanton Court (which is now a farmhouse); one bears the following epitaph:-

Sir Robert Bassett and wife 1641

"Should monuments goe by merit then surely thine
With precious stones and orient pearls should shine
But since thy world of worth ye world doth know
This marble stone may serve thy name to shew."

In the church on the north side of the altar is the tomb of Richard Coffin [plate 115b]. It is a stately canopied tomb, elaborately sculptured in freestone, and is moulded and deeply cusped, with roses on the bosses; it has two large initials, "R. C.", on each side near the top, and a demi-angel bearing a shield with the Coffin arms, surmounting, in the centre. It is of the style in use before and some time after 1500. In 1889 the tomb was opened, but was found to be empty; the vault is probably close by.

Richard Coffin was born in 1456, and died in 1523. His widow gave directions in her will (1535) that she should be buried with her husband in Heanton Church chancel.

Richard Coffin was Sheriff of Devon in 1493. He married, first, Alice Gambon, and second, "Jacquet", his survivor. One of his sons, William, was Master of the Horse to Queen Anne Boleyn [acceded 1533; executed 1536], and Privy Councillor to Henry VIII [r. 1509-1547]. He married Lady Manners of Haddon Hall, Derbyshire. He was knighted in 1534.

It seems very probable that this tomb was at one time used as an Easter Sepulchre. There are instances on record of persons leaving in their wills directions for the construction of an elaborate tomb on the north side of the chancel to serve as their own burial place, and also to be used as an Easter Sepulchre. As a symbolical act representing the descent of our Lord into the grave, it was the custom on Maundy Thursday to enclose the Blessed Sacrament in a receptacle, generally made of wood and called a pyx, and to place it in a recess in the north wall of the chancel, and it remained there until Easter when, as a type of Resurrection, it was replaced on the altar.

The registers date: baptisms, 1657; marriages, 1559; burials, 1559.