All Saints' Church, Bryher

History
View of the east end
History board for the 1822 restoration

Bryher is the most westerly settlement in England, therefore All Saints' Anglican church can claim to be the most westerly church in the Anglican provinces of Canterbury and York.

The earliest record of a permanent church on Bryher is the account of the dedication of a small building to 'God and All Saints' by the Chaplain of St Mary's, Revd Paul Hathaway, in 1742. It was approximately 24 feet by 13 feet and also served the community on Samson.

The church is built of granite rubble on a rectangular plan[2] and was enlarged in 1822 by the surveyor Christopher Strick to provide seating for 154 people. There were repairs in 1832 and 1833 by Thomas Downing, carpenter and William Williams. The tower and porch were added in 1860. There is a plain granite font dated 1861. There were additions and alterations in 1882 and a new chancel was added in 1897[3] and new roof (6 feet higher than the previous) in 1930.

The church has been listed since 1975.[2] The stained glass windows were replaced, the work being completed in 2007; all four lights are by Oriel Hicks of Phoenix Studio and represent sayings of Jesus Christ.[4]

Parish structure

All Saints' Church is within the United Benefice of the Isles of Scilly parishes, which also includes:[5]

Services

Services are held once a week at the church, in addition to special occasions such as weddings and christenings. The first confirmation service ever recorded at the church took place in 2013.[6]

Sources

References
  1. Historic England. "Church of All Saints  (Grade II) (1141234)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
  2. "Church of All Saints, Bryher". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
  3. "Reopening of Bryher Church, Isles of Scilly". Royal Cornwall Gazette. Truro. 5 May 1898. Retrieved 11 May 2015.
  4. "Isles of Scilly, Bryher All Saints". Cornish Stained Glass. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
  5. "All Saints, Bryher, Isles of Scilly". The Church of England. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
  6. "Bishop Of Truro Holds First Confirmation Service On Bryher". Scilly Today. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
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