The Commonwealth War Graves Commission has put up a sign at the entrance to St Disen’s Churchyard as part of its First World War centenary project to increase awareness of war graves throughout the United Kingdom. There are 8 war graves in St Disen’s Churchyard and another at the Baptist Church.
Although there are 8 war graves in the churchyard, there are only 7 grave sites as brothers, Private S. Elliot and Sapper V. Elliot are commemorated together.
Family and friends came together on a beautiful May Bank Holiday Sunday to celebrate the baptisms of Millie and her baby sister Meadow. The service included ‘Morning has Broken’ especially chosen by Millie and Meadow’s parents and a song, with plenty of actions, about how wide, high and deep God’s love is for us.
Millie and Meadow with parents, godparents and Revd Olly
St Disen’s Church looked its best for the day too, set against a brilliant blue sky and blossom on the trees.
A lovely church on a lovely day
At the recent APCM, the following people were elected:
Churchwardens : Jill Lucas and Dorothy Parsons
PCC members: Sue Watts, Hazel Excell, John Emerton, June Bolt, Bryan Parsons, Gwyneth Garner, Lyn Lucey, Marion Brown and Warwick Knowles.
We wish them a very successful year in office.
At our last Messy Church meeting, we heard the story of the great draught of fishes. Eleanor taught us a very cheerful song about the net that didn’t break and the children all took part in lovely craft activities.
Afterwards we shared a super meal together — tuna pasta — very appropriate!
We all have great fun at Messy Church — do come and join us!
Following the recent flooding in church, it was necessary to lift the carpets in the N and S aisles in order to dry them out. This revealed seven grave stones laid in the N aisle, dating from the 17th and 18th centuries. The most legible of these was that of Henry Shapcott:
“Here lyeth interred Hennery Shapcott of this parish gent. and also Margaret his daughter y wife of M Christopher Samford of y city of Exon merchant who died the 13th day of January 1689.”
Further research found that Henry was a rich man, owning a great deal of property in the area. He was born in Knowstone but lived in Bradninch, where he requested to be buried. Henry’s first wife was Wilmott Hill, by whom he had five children–Winifred, Elizabeth, Margaret, Robert and Francis. Wilmott died in 1627 and Henry subsequently married Mary Codner who survived him. Henry died in 1632, when all his children were still under 21 years old. He had been a churchwarden of St. Disen’s from 1621 to 1625 and Mayor of Bradninch in 1625 and 1630.
Henry’s son, Robert, was a colonel in Cromwell’s army. He was also Recorder for Bradninch and Tiverton before 1647. He is commemorated in a window, above the stage, in St Disen’s Hall.
Further names to be researched are three more Shapcotts, Humphrey Marshall, Anne Martyn, Samuel Lymmington and Catherine?, the wife of Thomas?.
We were pleased to welcome Jacob and Marcus to St Disens for their baptisms on Sunday 8th April, together with all their families and friends.
Our coffee morning last Saturday raised an amazing £477.00. A big thank you to all who supported and helped in any way. The morning was in aid of our Organ Restoration Fund and thanks to you, we are now well on the way to raising enough money to pay for the repairs to the organ, so that it can once more sound as it did when it was first built in the 19th century.
Plenty of fun for mums at Tiddlywinks.
Do come and join us — every 1st and 3rd Wednesday, 9.30 to 11.30 in St Disen’s Hall.
To celebrate Easter, St Disens is holding an Eggstravaganza on Saturday, 31st March from 2.00-4.00pm.
There will be games, crafts, food, history, music and an Egg Hunt at 3.00pm. And hopefully the tower will be open too. Great fun for everyone.
Congratulations to Helen and Peter who were married in St Disen’s on 10th March. The church looked lovely, with wonderful, coloured flowers and thankfully dried out after all the stirling work following the roof leaks.
