St Mary the Virgin

There has been a church at Belstone since at least 1260 the first recorded priest was William de Speccot in 1261 and it seems probable that there was a priest here long before that date.

The granite cross which has had a checkered history around the churchyard and rectory finally resting in its current location on the south wall near the Lady Chapel has been dated between 7th and 9th centuries.

The manor of Belstone was recorded in the Doomsday Book and with the later tin streaming copper and silver mining combined with the granite quarries the wealth soon allowed the villagers to build their own granite building even this high up on the isolated moorland.

The church has been much restored over the years with a major restoration in the 1870’s (along with many churches) that wiped away a lot of the special features of the building and leaving a very simple granite church that is very welcoming and calming.

Some of the main features are the Font probably dating back to William de Speccot’s day, the Granite Cross as mentioned above, The organ was originally in Knowle House In Sevenoaks Kent (Vita Sackville-West’s home),

The rood beam was erected as a memorial to the fallen of the village in WWI. Fine stained glass windows of various ages some signed by notable glass makers of the time. There are some interesting gravestones in the church yard to go with those set in the floor in front of the Lady chapel.

We are supported by the National Churches Trust and the Devon Historic Churches Trust as well as others in further maintenance of our beautiful building

Come and visit us at 1000 feet up on the edge of Dartmoor and feel the calmness of our church. Before leaving you may feel you wish to say a short prayer for all who mean something to you and the parish in quiet calmness of the interior.