Sourton Church Devon
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MoreOutdoor
N 50° 41.623 W 004° 04.460
30U E 424120 N 5616316
On the edge of Dartmoor, in the village of Sourton, St Thomas a Becket is a 14th Century church founded on an earlier settlement - going back before 970.
Waymark Code: WMVVK3
Location: South West England, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 05/29/2017
Views: 1
It was dedicated and in honour of St. Thomas a Becket in the 14th Century by descendants of two knights who had taken part in the murder of Thomas, Archbishop of Canterbury, in Canterbury Cathedral in 1170
When an off handed comment from the King (Henry) was taken as an order "will no one rid me of this turbulent priest!".Four knights took this comment literally, through loyalty and wishing to please the King, proceeded onto murdering the priest.
Two of the Knights-Fitz Urse and William de Tracey, were both Devon men.
It appears that their successors may have wanted to clear their family names and appease their consciences by rededicating the church to the Christian martyr. The church at Sourton - on a hillside site with wonderful views from the churchyard
Active Church: Yes
School on property: No
Date Built: Not listed
Service Times: Not listed
Website: Not listed
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Visit Instructions:
Take a picture of the Church. Please try to keep your GPSr out of the photo.