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Catholic church of Our Lady of the Assumption and St Mary Magdalen, Tavistock

Our Lady of the Assumption and St Mary Magdalen, Callington Road, Tavistock, Devon, PL19 8EH

  • Multiple dates available
  • In person
  • Pre-booking not required

Tavistock Catholic Church is linked to the mining heritage of Devon and Cornwall. It was built by the Duke of Bedford to accommodate the miners who flooded into the town in the mid 1800s to work in the local mines.

The building was designed by Henry Clutton, a renowned architect. It is in an Italianate manner with a tall almost-detached tower on the north side, under which is the principal entrance. There is also a second more ornate entrance on the south side which was for the use of the Dukes of Bedford. The detailing of the church is a mixture of Romanesque arcading and Gothic capitals.
The church is built of the local Hurdwick ashlar and consists of a Nave with a lower Chancel, Clerestory and Tower. The architectural significance of the church has been recognised by its being given Grade II* listing by English Heritage.

The interior of the church has many interesting features. There is a high stone circular lectern with a pattern of intersecting circles. The rererdos, restored in the early 1900s, is of massive plain English oak framework with deeply cut diaper panels.

In the east wall of the Sanctuary, there are three stained glass windows erected in 1912 by the children of Sarah Ann Trist, in her memory. The two lower windows are scenes from the life of Our Lady; the Annunciation and the Nativity. The third window depicts Christ welcoming the faithful into His kingdom. At the west end of the church is a glorious rose window with clear glass.

Timings & Tours

Saturday 07 September:
10.00 - 14.00
Saturday 14 September:
10.00 - 14.00

Location & directions

Our Lady of the Assumption and St Mary Magdalen, Callington Road, Tavistock, Devon, PL19 8EH

Contact on day:
Father Cyriacus
Telephone number:
+441822613802

Booking information

Pre-booking requirement:
Pre-booking not required

Accessibility details

The church is accessible by wheelchair and/or pushchair and there is a fully accessible toilet. There are two disabled parking bays next to the church.

Additional information

Light refreshments will be available. For further information and location, please refer to the parish website: www.ourladytavistock.org.uk

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