St Symphorian, Veryan

The Church of St Symphorian is location in the village of Veryan, within the Churchtown settlement. The church was created around the beginnning of the 14th century, and acquired its first Vicar in 1309. The church then went under great restoration in 1847.

The stone building, in the Perpendicular style, consists of chancel, with aisles of two bays, nave of six bays, north aisle, south transept, south and west porches and a tower on the south side of the transept, with four pinnacles and containing a clock and 3 bells, the first two cast in 1748 and the tenor in 1772.

It was recorded that in 1281, Veryan church had a 'small bell of St Symphorian, its patron saint.

It was estimated that in 1281, the vicarage of Veryan had an income of £5 os. od. and by 1291, this amount had fallen to £2 os. od. Just inside the parish of Veryan, was a medieval settelment, called Sheepstall (now Shipstors). In the early 14th century it included messuages and at least two mills, one corn and one fulling. A leaper house is first recorded there in 1301 when it stood close to the two mills - an unusual location for an institution that was usually set apart from other people.

A chapel of St Margaret, in Veryan, is mentioned in the same year, but it is not known whether this was a place of worship for the lepers, the public, or both. The chapel still existed at the end of the 16th century, but there are no longer any visible features.

In 1281, two clergy of Exeter Cathedral reported on the state of eight of its churches and one of its chapels. Veryan's chancel was noted as being whitewahed, however during a similar visitation in 1331, the church's chancel was criticised for being too dark.

It was recorded that in 1331, Veryans included a hall, chamber, garderoba (store room or privy), cellar and kitchen.

View photographs and documents associated with Veryan Church from the selection below.