Transcript

of

Devon Church Plate

Devon & Cornwall Notes and Queries vol. IX, (January 1916 to January 1917), pp. 91-92.

by

M.A.

Prepared by Michael Steer

Sowton parish council merged with that of nearby Clyst St Mary in 1976 to form Bishop's Clyst.
St Michael's church was rebuilt in 1844-5, by John Hayward and paid for by John Garratt who retained the original perpendicular north arcade. It is a rare example of an early Victorian Tractarian village church and is a grade I listed building. The Note relates to recovery of lost church silver. Google has sponsored the digitisation of books from several libraries. This extract, from a copy of a rare and much sought-after journal can be downloaded from the Internet Archive.  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.

Note 81. Devon Church Plate. - Considerable interest was aroused among Devonians by a letter which appeared in the Observer of the 30th April, 1916, in which are described 
two pieces of church plate which had been disposed of at a Red Cross sale held at Messrs. Christie's saleroom on the l0th of April, 1916. 

These were: (i) a silver-gilt Elizabethan chalice and paten (lot 510), which realized;£240. This chalice and paten were bought some 30 years ago in a shop in Torquay, the then owner stating that they had been found at some time or other in a river in the neighbourhood, it is believed, of Oxford; 

(2) a flagon of the time of Charles I. (lot 511), having on it the following inscription 
under a coat of arms: - 

In perpetuam amoris Sui Memoriam erga Ecclesiam parochialem Sowton Lagenam banc argenteam in usum Sacras Csenae Domini ibidem administrandae bumiiime Dedicavit Gulielmus Beavis de Faringdon in Comitatu Devon Generosus A.D. 1703; 
which, being translated, reads: -

William Beavis, Genileman, of Faringdon, in the County of Devon, has most humbly dedicated this silver vessel in everlasting memory of his love towards the Parochial Church of Sowton, for the use of the Sacred Supper of the Lord there to be celebrated. A.D. 1703. 

There is no proof that the chalice and paten (No. 1) belonged, at any time, to any church in Devon, and its only connection with the county is that it was at one time for sale in a shop in Torquay ; but that the flagon (No. 2) was, and still is, the property of the parish of Sowton 
cannot be questioned. 

It is entered in the Terrier of Goods of that church in 1726, and no faculty exists for its alien- 
ation. The explanation of the alienation appears to be that 80 years ago the flagon, being then considered a useless piece, was given by the then incumbent of the parish to a local benefactor, who had recently presented the church with a new silver-gilt Communion set of the fashion of the time. Since then it has lain forgotten and uncared for in a plate room. In looking over this plate, a descendant of the original recipient came across this flagon, and recognising its value, presented it to the Red Cross Society for sale. 

But the announcement of its sale attracted the attention of several members of the Devonshire Association and of Devonians generally, and on the history of the flagon and of its alienation being brought to the knowledge of the donor, he very generously purchased back his own gift, at a cost of £590, and restored it to Sowton Church. 

Our readers, no doubt, will be glad to learn the satisfactory result of this transaction ; but it should be noted that no one now living is responsible for the alienation. 

                               M. A.