Proposed Restoration of Bovey Tracey Parish Church: An adjourned meeting of parishioners was held at Bovey Tracey on Saturday for the purpose of considering the offer of the Hon. and Rev. C. L. Courtenay to restore the chancel and provide a new screen, at an estimated cost of £1, 500. To meet this amount an anonymous donor offers to give £500 and the remaining £1,000 will be subscribed by the Canon himself, who also guarantees to provide £30 per annum to the parish for the purpose of keeping the chancel in repair. In the parish there is a certain amount of opposition, mainly directed by Mr. Divett the owner of the potteries near, who claims there is no reason for the restoration, and Mr. Hole, a large tithe-owner of the parish, who refuses to give up his right to certain seats in the chancel, the restoration of which would deprive him of several leaving him but one in the chancel and the remainder in the body of the church. The Hon. and Rev.C. L. Courtenay presided, and the meeting was largely attended. In answer to Mr. Divett, who questioned the legality of that day’s meeting, the Chairman said he was perfectly certain that was within his right in adjourning the meeting of last Saturday, and he also held the right, which he should exercise, of stating when a poll should be taken. Mr. E. Endacott, in supporting the Vicar, said he thought the condition of the church was a disgrace to the parish (Applause). Mr. S. Mugford said the Rural Dean’s report on the church of Bovey was that it was everything that could be desired. Mr. W. R. Hole said that in refusing to give up his right to the seats in the chancel he acted from conscientious motives and was ready now to put the chancel in such a state of repair as was considered necessary. The Chairman said he must distinctly deny that any offer had been made to him by Mr. Hole to restore the chancel, as he had that matter too much at heart to forget anything concerning it. The decision they were about to take was of vital importance to them all and to those who would come after them. The original motion of the preceding Saturday was then put and lost by five votes. The poll was taken yesterday, Messrs. Sparkes and Beer acting on the matter behalf of the Vicar, and Messrs. Pinsent and H. Baker for the opposition. The voting concluded at eight o’clock, and the result will be found in another column.
[see similar Exeter Flying Post: Wednesday 29th April 1885 & Western Times: Monday 27th April 1885]
Transcribed in whole or part from scanned originals: Presented with or without modified text and punctuation. For absolute accuracy refer to the original newspapers. Source: The British Newspaper Archive.
Referenced
GRO0412 Hennock: Henry Pinsent: 1844 – 1894