Transcript

of

Rev Samuel George Harris [Obituary]

Transactions of the Devonshire Association, 1889, Vol XXXIX, (1907), pp. 40-41.

Prepared by Michael Steer

The obituary was read at the Association’s July 1907 Axminster meeting. Modbury Parish Baptismal Registers indicate that Samuel George Harris was born there on 28 October, 1825, to John Veale Harris and Susanna his wife, his father entered as Yeoman. In an earlier (1823) entry, he was registered as “Gentelman”. The Rev. S.G. Harris was Curate, then Rector of Highweek Parish Church; All Saints, for 45 years. His church is a medieval foundation consecrated in 1428 and until 1864 served as a chapel of ease to the neighbouring parish church of Kingsteignton.  By 1427 although the parishioners had built a chapel at Highweek, they had to carry their dead some three miles to the parish church in Kingsteignton, so they petitioned Pope Martin V for their own graveyard.  This was granted in a bull dated 14 May 1427. The church and its churchyard were consecrated by Bishop Lacy of Exeter in1428. All Saints is today a Grade I listed building. The ancient church which was served by the Rev Harris for almost half a century, sits on a steep-sided hill at the end of the ridge that runs the length of the village. It is clearly visible for miles around. Its battlemented tower on the west end of the nave carries a flag pole that can be seen from Newton Abbot town centre. The obituary, from a copy of a rare and much sought-after journal can be downloaded from the Internet Archive. Google has sponsored the digitisation of books from several libraries. These books, on which copyright has expired, are available for free educational and research use, both as individual books and as full collections to aid researchers.

The Rev. Samuel George Harris was born at Modbury in 1825. He was educated at the grammar schools of Plymouth and Kingsbridge, obtaining the Duncombe scholarship from the latter, and proceeded to Oxford and entered Exeter College, obtaining his B.A. degree (4th class Lit. Hom.) in 1848, but he did not take, his Master's degree until 1857. He was ordained deacon at Wells Cathedral in 1848, and received priest's orders at Exeter Cathedral in 1850. He became successively curate of Cornworthy, Diptford, Menheniot, Churston Ferrers, and Highweek, the latter in 1861. In 1864 Highweek was separated from Kingsteignton, and Mr. Harris was appointed rector, and here he continued nearly to the close of his life. As curate and rector he was at Highweek for forty-five years. Increasing infirmities compelled him to resign in 1906, to the great regret of his parishioners and friends; but his life soon ended, and on the 3rd July, 1907, he passed away after an illness of some duration. His parish always had his first care, but other pursuits interested him, more especially natural history and archaeology. He became a member of the Association in 1877, and was a constant attendant at the annual meetings, and from time to time contributed acceptable papers. He was much beloved by all who knew him, and by them his loss is greatly regretted.