There has probably been a church at the heart of Buckland Monachorum since Saxon times. This section charts the development of St Andrew's as a place of worship and also as a focus for community life.

The story starts a very long time ago....

c.900AD A small wooden church was built in the centre of the village. 

1271  Odo de Arundelie became the first of forty-six recorded vicars.

1305 A vicarage with forty acres of land was built at Lovecombe. The ruins of this can still be seen in the beautiful grounds of 'The Garden House' which is well worth a visit.                                                                 

1342 During the Archdeacon's visitation it was noted that the chancel was too dark. Recent repairs had cost the princely sum of forty shillings and two quarters of oats!

1349 Vicar Walter Weyridge died of the Black Death. 

c.1350 The wooden building was replaced by a more substantial cruciform stone structure which was used for one hundred and forty years.

1490 The present building was erected during the reign of Henry VIIth. Much of the stone used was salvaged from its predecessor and examples can still be seen in the tower today.

c.1500 Monks living at nearby Buckland Abbey oversaw the activities of the church and it was probably they who chose St Andrew as the patron saint.

1557 Following the dissolution of the Abbey in 1539, John Toker became the last abbot in charge of St Andrew's.

Buckland Abbey

1581 Sir Francis Drake, the renowned Elizabethan mariner bought Buckland Abbey and worshipped in the village. A pew, thought to be his, can still be seen in the church today. 

1646 Joseph Rowe became vicar. His sixty-two year tenure spanned the Civil War, the Commonwealth and no less than four royal reigns. He died at the grand old age of ninety-eight...no mean feat for the time!

1710 The vicarage was enlarged to include seven bedrooms, a study, parlour, hall, kitchen, dairy, cellar and last but not least; a beer house.

1723 Two new bells were added, making a total of six. Unfortunately their weight and vibration fractured the weakened tower and emergency repairs were needed to avert disaster!

A tranquil view of St Andrew's 

1802 A musicians gallery was added the the west end of the church.

1815 Armed with a barrel of beer, the bell-ringers broke into the church one Saturday and rang to their heart's content all through the night. For this "mutinous and riotous" behaviour they were dismissed and banned from both ringing and singing in the church forever!

1826 Vicar, Charles Barter, decided to demolish the vicarage and build a replacement....all without permission! This house is now 'The Garden House.'

The ruined original vicarage within the grounds of the Garden House                                                    

1830 Church meetings were noted always to terminate in the 'Horse and Jockey' or 'Crown Inn.' Perhaps this ancient tradition should be revived!

1849 Organ music arrived at St Andrew's and its designer, Dr L G Hayne,  composed the well known hymn tune "Buckland."

1898 A cross was erected in the churchyard to celebrate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee. At its unveiling, prayers were said for the Queen, children waved flags and the Buckland Brass Band led a parish procession to Pound for a grand celebratory tea.  

The Diamond Jubilee Cross

1906 A new tower clock was installed amidst great celebration. It was set going on Easter Sunday. 

1920 Vicar Richard Hayne died aged ninety-six. During his sixty-four years at Buckland, this popular character restored St Andrew's, built a church at Milton Coombe and also oversaw the construction of local schools. He even declined the opportunity to become a bishop, preferring to remain within his idyllic rural parish.

1924 The current vicarage was built. Although smaller than its predecessors, this building enjoys superb views across rolling fields towards the hills of Cornwall.

1930 Candlelight was finally superceded by electricity in the church

1947 All six bells were re-cast and re-hung. Two new treble bells were added. 

The new bells prepare to leave the foundry

1966 St Andrew's became a musical centre for choirs, choral festivals and organ recitals. The Buckland Chamber Orchestra and Festival Chorus gave many performances to packed audiences.

1984 The current vicar, Graham Cotter, arrived at Buckland and Milton Combe.

1990 The 'new' church celebrated its five hundredth birthday!

Additional information may be found in The Book of Buckland Monachorum & Yelverton - a Portrait of the Parish by Pauline Hamilton-Leggett. We are grateful for permission to reproduce some images and text from this publication.