ST MARY MAGDALENE CHURCH, STOKE CANON
The ecclesiastical parish of Stoke Canon is a small community only about five miles north of Exeter, County of Devon in England. Also known as St. Mary Magdalene. The church was probably one of the Domesday churches of Devon. Before the Norman conquest there may have been a small rural oratory of cob, thatched with osiers, served by a priest from St Peter’s monastery. When the monastery at Exeter was made into Exeter Cathedral the endowment of Stoke manor remained with it and it is recorded in the Domesday book.
In 1148 Stoke was assigned for use of the Canons of the cathedral who had a dwelling house at Stoke and may have served the church sometimes, although they also appointed a vicar or chaplain.
There appear to have been several buildings consisting of a nave and chancel on the site of the present church, with the addition of the tower in the 1400’s. A visitation of the Dean and Chapter in 1301 notes that the church was in possession of many vessels, crosses and banners and that the figure of St Mary Magdalene over the high alter was old and ill-shaped.
In 1835 the church, apart from the tower, was rebuilt and enlarged. Between 1874 and 1884 the pews were rearranged, probably to accommodate a choir and an organ which was installed in 1879.
The oldest item is the font, which is Norman in style and one of the oldest in Devon. The tower is not square and is much broader from north to south than east to west. The weather vane is in the form of the early Christian secret sign of a fish and incorporates a crown signifying that it is a salmon – probably because the church stands on a salmon river. 15th century medieval pews with Tudor pew ends can still be seen in the gallery of the church. The pulpit is a good example of Jacobean woodcarving. Two large mural tablets from the 17th century have been retained and the large oil painting in the chancel is a copy of a 17th century Italian or Spanish ‘The agony of Christ”.
The church clock dates from 1731, while the boards on the tower wall commemorating the founding of ‘Poor Charities’ date from 1797.Four bells were installed in the tower between 1641 and 1724 and two more added in 1885 to make a ring of six.
In recent years strong connections have been made between our church and The Boone Society of America. Ancestors of Daniel Boone, the great American pioneer, lived and were buried in Stoke Canon. George Boone II, was buried on 31st May 1696, his wife Sarah on 5th February 1708 and two of his son's - Henry at age four months, and John at age 20. No tombstones exist today for this family.
25 members of the Boone Society visited Stoke Canon in April 2007 whilst on a tour of England. Members also gave generously to the cost of saving the church when the roof was in danger of collapse.
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The cache is not at the coordinates, but a short walk away. Clues to the location are in the church yard in clear view. Substitute the letters for numbers as follows:-
N 50.AB.CDE
W 003.FG.HIJ
A and B - Frederick Robson's Age at Death minus his length of service as vicar of this parish.
C and J - Half of Jane Cooks Life
D - The difference in age between 29274 and 44348
E - RB 22nd February 18?9
F - Stephen Osbourne became vicar here in 197?
G - The difference in birth year between Nancy and Ernest.
H - The difference in age at death between Samuel Davey and his Wife.
I - There is no service when?
The cache is at the above coordinates.
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