01803 214175History
Welcome to St. Matthias' Historic Guide
The Churches that stand at the hearts of our communities are visible symbols both of the human search for God, and our worship of Him.
And, from the grandest cathedral to the humblest parish church, each building has a story to tell. St Matthias’ is no different. From the deep longings of the community of Ilsham and Wellswood in the 19th century to have their own place of worship, to the thriving church community here coping with the demands of being the church in the 21st century, and reaching out to our neighbourhood… our church tells its own story. We invite you to come and take time to look around, and enjoy what the building has to offer, to take time to be quiet and listen to God, as well as joining us in prayer (this history has many suggestions for that.). Above all, give thanks to God, who inspired the building of this church, and who, in love, draws close to us day by day.
A Brief History and Guide toSt. Matthias' Church and Church Centre |
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At the front of the church, over the Chancel arch, there is a great wooden screen. The cross with a crown at the top - Christ crucified and risen, is King of Glory - standing on a beam which is supported by two life-sized angels whose wings stretch out in a great arch. This screen was given in memory of John Snelgrove who died in 1903, it is carved from oak trees grown in the neighbourhood of Exeter The lectern, or reading desk, is in the form of a brass eagle on a pillar. The eagle symbolises the carrying of the gospel, the glad tidings preached by Christ, to the corners of the earth The pulpit is made of alabaster with marble plinth and shafts. The recessed panels contain figures in relief of great preachers, Jesus Christ, Noah, Elijah, St. Paul and St. Chrysostom. Notice that Elijah has a raven and Noah has a dove in one hand and an ark in the other. In the Church Centre the children's room is called the Ark. Above the pulpit is a carved oak sounding board placed in memory of Mrs. Snelgrove in 1915. |
The South Transept Chapel has a wooden carving of the Last Supper over the altar, and nearby a window depicting the same scene. Notice the brass tablet in this Chapel to the Rev. Rex Luckcraft who was only here for 6 months before he died - in 1970, but "won many friends and advanced God's kingdom."
The original organ was built in 1885 by Hill & Son (builders of the Westminster Abbey organ) at a cost of £1,100. It was re-built and enlarged by Rushworth and Dreaper in 1923, had a major overhaul and a further enlargement in 1949 as a memorial to Mr. W. L. Twinning who had been organist here for 41 years. It was substantially rebuilt again in 1975 when the organ console was moved to the North Transept and rebuilt and upgraded in 2008 by Nicholson's of Malvern; the work arranged and funded by the Friends of St.Matthias'.
On the wall of the South Aisle there is a carved wooden memorial to two brothers Gerald and Laurence Russell who both died in the Royal Flying Corps in the First World War. There is also a general War Memorial to all who fell in the 1914-1918 War.
Along this side of the church we continue to see fine stained glass. Notice the details of the flowering trees in the backgrounds. At the back of the church is a stand in memory of the Rev. Neville Rose-Price, Vicar here 1965 - 1970. On it lies a Memorial Book. It is open to show the names of those who died over the years in this particular month.
Upon leaving the church and entering the Link Hall visitors will pass through the double doors with their panelled surrounds. The facings of the surround incorporate pews from St. Matthias' and sections of the Communion tables from St. Mark and Holy Trinity, thus symbolising the linking of our Church Centre to the three churches.
Past Vicars of the Parish of St. Matthias' Church
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Thomas Nash Hicks 1880 |
Henry W Majendie 1904 | F.H. Bickersteth Ottley 1912 |
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| Arthur Evelyn Ward 1922 | Thomas Albert Coulson 1940 | T. Neville V.C Rose Price 1965 |
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| Reginald C. Luckraft 1970 | Ronald H. Redfern 1971 | Peter J. Larkin 1981 |
THE CHURCH CENTRE
In 1923 the need for a Church Hall was first discussed by the Parochial Church Council but nothing tangible occurred until the incumbency of the Rev'd. Neville Rose-Price, when the old Paish's Piano Shop in Lisburne Square was bought in 1968. Converted to a hall, this served the parish well but had the disadvantages of being remote from the church, being somewhat austere and being a single usable room. During the 1970's the need to build an additional hall adjacent to the church was again apparent and sketch designs were under consideration at the time the Rev'd. Peter Larkin commenced his incumbency in 1981. These sketch plans were for a modern but small single storey hall, but the Rev'd. Larkin had a greater vision.
In 1982 a design brief was compiled, Edward Narracott, Tanner & André were appointed Architects, and Hart and Humman Quantity Surveyors; the Church Centre was designed and costed. Planning permission was sought in 1983, refused by Torbay Council but granted by the Secretary of State for the Environment on Appeal in September 1984. That October a building fund was launched and as building costs were escalating, the Parochial Church Council took the decision to commence the building contract with Cruse and Bridgeman of Torquay when half the funding had been achieved - a commitment of faith. In June 1985 the Bishop of Plymouth, the Right Rev'd. Kenneth Newing, cut the first turf to commence work. and on 20th October our oldest church member, Gwen Andrews, laid a commemorative stone with the text "Come to the Lord, the living stone," (1 Peter 2:4). The stone itself appears like marble, but is in fact an ordinary piece of walling limestone taken from the church and cut and polished; symbolising new birth from old. Building and giving proceeded apace and on Palm Sunday, 23rd March 1986, the new Church Centre was opened by children from the congregation. The final cost was £213,629 of which £55,000 came from a bequest by Mary Alexander, £43,000 from the sale of the old hall, £15,000 from the Diocese of Exeter and the balance of almost £101,000 by direct giving from the congregation and parishioners.
The Centre is designed for the minimum of maintenance and economy of heating. Floors are of precast concrete, cavity walls are of Forticrete artificial stone facings and insulating blockwork. The roof is of timber scissor trusses with natural slate coverings; first floor elevations are slate clad. Steel windows and doors are double glazed. All exposed wood is hardwood. Religious symbolism has been used throughout the building. The double doors have the cross of Christ in darker wood within the framing of lighter wood. Larger door handles have 'A' and 'Z' insignia derived from the Living Bible Translation (Revelation 1:8) "I am the A and the Z, the beginning and the end of all things says God who is and was and is coming again." The Church public address system is linked to many rooms to enable services to be heard in the Centre.
To continue our journey, the visitor will pass through the Link noting that disabled persons' use is considered by special toilet facilities, the avoidance of any steps or changes in level, and the double doors from the link leading to a wide easy ramp approach.
From the link we enter the Peter Larkin Hall. The hall was so named in 1998 after the Rev'd. Canon Peter Larkin had left the parish to take up a post in Plymouth, in recognition of his 16 years of dedicated ministry at St. Matthias'. This room is used by the church, clubs and for private and general social events.
It is used daily in term time by Ilsham Church of England Primary School for assemblies and physical education. Note the Canadian maple sprung floor and, at the East end of the room, the wood cut figure of Christ preaching. Off the hall is a well equipped kitchen and large store.
The visitor should now return to the Link and go down the stairs. Note the two tone glass window forming the cross of Christ. (For those in wheelchairs or with prams, go down the ramp and enter via the path beneath the ramp). At lower ground floor level is the Parish Office, the administrative nerve centre of the Church, with print room and boiler room off, and a wide corridor passing a series of rooms. To the right is the Mary Alexander Lounge. This room is named after a devout and quiet Christian lady, a companion to a wealthy lady of Torquay, who inherited a large sum upon the death of her friend. She lived frugally and no-one knew of her wealth until after her death when her inheritance was bequeathed to St. Matthias' Church. Visitors frequently remark on the peaceful atmosphere of this room which is popular for small meetings and private gatherings. It is often used after funerals in the Church. Note the tapestry of the Last Supper, worked by a past member of the congregation. Off the lounge is a large store built in 1997.
Continuing down the corridor we reach the Ark - so called as it was built for use by children's groups, but also doubles as a further meeting room. Next to the Ark is the Rose-Price Room, named after the Rev'd. Neville Rose-Price, vicar here from 1965 until his death in 1970. This room is set aside for reading (there is a small Christian library here) and as a quiet room for study or prayer. This room also doubles as a small meeting room. Continuing past the toilets the visitor reaches another small hallway which was the end of the 1986 building.
THE CENTRE EXTENSION
In 1990 the need for a further extension became apparent with growth in use of the buildings by Ilsham School, local clubs and the church. In particular the church's own young people's groups had an increasing need for space.
After consideration of the needs, Edward Narracott, Tanner & André and Hart and Humman were again engaged and various sketch designs were costed before the present design was decided upon by the Parochial Church Council. The extension also gave the opportunity to link in and upgrade the Clergy Vestry and Choir Room off the South undercroft, which were antiquated.
An appeal was launched in 1990. This time there was no problem over Planning Permission. Small grants were given by Devon County Council and Exeter Diocese, but apart from this all monies were given by church members with some help from the local community. A building contract was again entered into when half the money had been raised. The builders were M W Benney of Torquay, works commenced on 6th January 1992 and were completed on 11th September 1992. The total cost was £146,355.
To continue our journey the visitor will pass through the link corridor. Note the outside play area for small children to the left. This has a soft rubberised surface to meet safety regulations. To the right is the Pine Room. This was to be a temporary name given whilst an appropriate name was considered by the church membership! The Pine Room was designed for hard wear. Vinyl covered concrete floor, hard wall plaster, pine boarded ceiling, flush fitted lights, safety glass to windows and doors. This room is used by the Pre-School, Youth Club and Brownies, and for Ilsham School meals, as well as being an extra meeting room. Off the Pine Room is a large store.
On leaving the Pine Room the visitor should turn right through another set of double doors into the Music Room, (formerly used by the choir and Musicians) now by the Pre-School and, if need be, as another meeting room. Off the music room is the Clergy Vestry. To the right of this room is a large oak door; through this is a passage with a toilet to the left and a mother and baby changing room to the right. Ahead there is a flight of stairs leading up to the church. On Sundays this is the Clergy and Choir access to the church. Upon climbing the stairs the visitor re-enters the church and may leave by either the North door or the Link.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
"Ilsham and Saint Matthias" written for the First Centenary of the Consecration of St. Matthias' Church, 1958, by Louis M. Coulson, son of the then Vicar, the Rev. T.A. Coulson.
"The Churches and Chapels of Torquay" by "Criticus" re-printed from The Torquay Times.
"Church Furniture" by E.L. Delderfield.
This Guide was written by Joan Mason-Martin in 1985 and updated by John Hart in 1998 to commemorate the 140th Anniversary of St. Matthias' Church, revised and updated 2009.
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