Written by Cecil C Foulkes-Church Warden
In collaboration with Rev David Hunt, July, 1987

Introduction
Welcome to East Coker Church which, following ancient tradition for churches
built on a hill, is dedicated to St Michael.  The existence of a Norman font
suggests that a church stood here in the 11th century, maybe a rather larger
version of the lovely Norman Church which still stands by the reservoir in
neighbouring Sutton Bingham.

The first documentary reference to a church on this site is in 1276, shortly
before the Courtenay family, Earls of Devon, acquired the Manor of East Coker
with the Manor House-Coker Court next door to the church.

In her book "The Story of our Villag" - Beatrice Hackwell relates the legend
which says that the villagers wished to build their church on lower ground at
a spot near the present East Coker Hall.  The work started but mysteriously
each night the building materials were carred from the site and place on the
hill near the manor house.  These happenings persisted and eventually the
villages became afraid to continue on the lower ground and building was
commenced on the site where the present church stands and all was well.

There was a further attempt to build a village church in a "more convienient
position" in 1875.  "The Burial Act" passed by Parliament in 1850 encouraged
local authorities to establish public burial grounds.  The people of the
village were agreed on the need for a new cemeteery and at a Vestry meeting
held in May 1875 the following resolution was proposed and seconded:

"The ratepayers would prefer, if possible, to remove the church altogether to
a more convenient position, having a graveyard by its side, to building a
cemetery chapel as propsed and they are willing in thier part to a fair
proportion of the cost, provided the Landowners are ready to meet the
remainder."

By February 1877 it was reported that Mr Helyar of Coker Court was willing to
build the cemetery chapel himself at a cost of L350, so saving extra cost to
the Parish, Mr Helyar's offer was accepted and the position of the church was
assured.

Many generations of the people of East Coker have worshipped continuously
within this church for well over 600 years and the present congregation are
mindful of the heritage passed to their care.  May you join with them and find
this church a sanctuary of peace and a source  of inspiration the busy
Twentieth Century.

THE FONT
If you remain standing at the back of the churchyou will see the eleventh
century Norman font-note the early stone font cover standing by it.  The base
of the font is of a much later period, probably nineteenth century.  The font
is appropriately placed near the entrance of the church, as it is at the font
that new members are baptized and received into the Christian faith.

Baptism in the Church of England usually takes place within a few months of a
baby's birth.  During the service of baptism the congregation say the
following words:
"receive (him/her) into the family of your Church that (he/she) may walk with
us in the way of Christ and grow in the knowledge of your love."

FAMILY LINKS-THE COURTENAYS.
This family link began in the fourteenth century and for 300 years Coker Court
was the property of the Courtenay family.  In the south window of this
transept are fragments of medieval stained glass including the Courtenay Coat-
of-Arms and the arms of the Diocese of Exeter.

East Coker is in the Diocese of Bath and Wells but the Exeter arms are
included here because the Courtenays' principal home was Powderham Castle, a
few miles south of Exeter.  Also in the fifteenth century Piers Courtenay was
Bishop of Exeter.

RECTOR-VICAR	
An even stronger reason for the Exeter Arms is as follows.  In 1377 the
Courtenay family obtained permission from the Dean and Chapter of Exeter for
the erection of a Chantry Chapel in the Cathedral, where mass could be said
daily for the repose of the souls of Hugh the 2nd Earl of  Devon and Margaret
his wife and other members of the family including William, Archbishop of
Cantebury.  In return for this the Courtenays transferred the advowson of the
Rectory of East Coker-the right of patronage (i.e., the right to appoint the
priest or incumbent) to the Dean and Chapter of Exeter.  From that time
onwards the Dean and Chapter have had the right to appoint successive vicars
of East Coker.  Also originally the right to a major part of the income from
the parish due to the rector.  This is the reason for East Coker today having
a Vicar while West Coker still has a Rector.  After the Courtenays left Coker
Court it was occupied for a number of years the the Phelips family while their
new home, Montacute House was being built for them.

THE HELYARS
No doubt it was because of the connection with EXETER that one of the
Archdeacons in that Diocese, the Archdeacon of Barnstaple, William Helyar
bought Coker Court in 1616.  Archdeacon Helyar was Chaplain to Queen Elizabeth
1.  The property passed to Archdeacon Helyar's grandson-Colonel Helyar who was
a Royalist supporter in the Civil War which begain in 1642 and patron of
William Dampier.

THE NORTH DOOR where you entered the church is six hundred years old.  The
lock, still in working order is enclosed in a single baulk of timber.

THE ROYAL COAT OF ARMS above the north door has hung in the church for over
300 years.  When King Henry the eigth repudiated the Pope's jurisdiction over
the Church in England in 1536 and made himself Supreme Head of the Church of
England, the Royal arms was ordered to be placed in all churches.  During the
reign of his daughter Mary (a Catholic) most were destroyed in 1660 at the
Restoration of the Monarchy after the Commonwealth, all Churches were again
ordered to display the Royal arms.  The arms here are dated 1690 and the
sovereign's cipher (W and M conjoined to the left of the crown) is therefore
that of William and Mary joint Monarchs 1689-1697.  Recent restoration work by
Mr Alex Goulden in 1986 showed that under the date and cipher are signs of the
original CII (Charles the second) and the date 1660.  East Coker's coat of
arms was therefore updated after the upheaval of James the second and the
Monmouth Rebellion to emphasise the authority of the revolution settlement of
1689 at the inauguration of the reign of William and Mary.

STONE FIGURE.
Beside the Eliot memorial stands the stone effigy of a lady of distinction,
possibly a member of the De Mandeville family, Lords of the Manor before the
Courtneays, dating from thirteenth century?  It was discovered during work on
the churchyard in 1870 just after it was closed and East Coker Cemetery
opened.  Recent investigations suggest that it was a formerly in the chancel.

THE CHURCH YARD.
As you leave the church you will notive, to the right of the church porch a
tomb said to date from the late thirteenth century.  It is a tomb of a type
normally inside a church.  In a certain light it is possible to see an incised
female figure.  Collinson's History of Somerset refers to, "a very ancient
tomb in a niche in the wall of the north aisle, but without any memorial."
Could this be the tomb mentioned, as we do know that such a tomb was moved
outside to make room for more pews and the extension of the north transept.

At the foot of the church path near the main gates shared with Coker Court,
there are the almshouses founded in 1640 by Archdeacon Helyar for 11 women and
1 man.  Today these are administered by the Trustees of the Helyar's Alms
Houses.  There are now nine dwellings, the last one was the chapel.
 

Stan Coker


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