St Raphael
Huccaby, Devon
St Raphael's today is a church in its own right, but it was originally built in 1869 by the Rector of Lydford, Revd Morris Fuller, as a mission chapel.
The tall tower is a particular feature of this 14th century Perpendicular style church, referred to locally as the Cathedral of the Moor.
The interior has a fine barrel roof and many carved wooden bosses. The remains of a wooden screen holds panels containing paintings of saints and martyrs. The tower is probably early 16th century, is 135 feet high and houses a peal of 8 bells. The only monuments are on the walls or laid in the floor. Up to the middle of the 18th century parishioners could be buried in the nave at a cost of 6 shillings and eight pence per grave. Between 1712 and 1762 there were 71 such interments.
In October 1638 the church and tower were seriously damaged by a severe thunderstorm. A number of people were killed and many were injured. A record of The Great Storm can be found on boards affixed to the wall close by the west door and local superstition as to what really happened is graphically detailed.
Uncle Tom Cobley and friends are an historical feature of Widecombe Fair to which they made an annual pilgrimage. A working model of them upon their grey mare is on show in the south transept of the church.
Beatrice Chase, the author, is buried in the churchyard under her real name of Olive Katherine Parr (1874 – 1955). Her pen name is on the reverse side of the headstone.
