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This page was updated on 9th November 2008.

There has been a Catholic Church in Crediton for much of the past thirteen centuries. The major exception being the gap created following the Dissolution of the Monasteries (1536-1540) through to the Catholic Emancipation Act of 1829. During this period there were still Catholic families throughout Mid-Devon.

Before Christianity was established in Crediton, it had a long association with pagan spirituality. This is still evidenced in the symbolism of the Norman churches in the area. Many academic historians believe that paganism and Christianity co-existed for many centuries.

It is widely recorded that Boniface arranged for the foundation charter of 739 AD providing lands for the establishment of a monastery in the town of his birth. At this time the Anglo Saxons occupied and ruled much of the eastern and central parts of southern England. Crediton was probably near the frontier edge of their expanding empire. The Celts of Cornwall were still in control of much of the western extremeties of the south west peninsula. It is believed that this first monastery, and the subsequent Cathedral, were built mostly of wood. The Heritage Lottery Fund provided £44,000 for a detailed remote sensing survey in 2007. This has provided some information on early foundations, but unfortunately the survey was not completed. Further work is awaited. It is believed that the Saxon buildings may have occupied the site of the present Anglican Church (Holy Cross).

From 909 Crediton was the seat of the Bishopric which covered most of present day Devon and Cornwall. It was transferred to Exeter in 1050 by Bishop Leofric. Several texts record that Exeter was 'safer' from Viking raids. This was the claim put to the Pope by Leofric, but there is no factual evidence for his claim. It is also rather curious as Exeter is much closer to the coast of South Devon, and only a few kilometres from the navigable Exe Estuary. Could it have been that Leofric was conscious of the economic and trade communication advantages of being nearer a coastal trading centre?

Crediton had been the principal religious centre of the South West peninsula for over 300 years, but its importance did not decline entirely.

Shortly after the Bishop's See was transferred to Exeter, work must have begun on the fine stone building of Holy Cross Church we see today, now occupied by the Anglican Church. Parts of the central tower of the Church are believed to date from the 12^th Century, with significant additions over the following four centuries. The building is constructed almost entirely from volcanic basalt, obtained from quarries a few miles from the town. It is the largest of several local churches built of this unique and durable material. Unfortunately, it is incorrectly recorded in several historical guides that the church is built of sandstone; further evidence that many historical texts are reiterations of earlier works!

Although Holy Cross was removed from Catholic control at the Reformation, Crediton is fortunate to have inherited a fine example of medieval church architecture, and one of the largest parish churches in Devon. Fabric documents from the last few centuries show several periods of economic difficulty for the Parish but the Anglican community have done well to maintain such a large building.

Catholics in the Crediton area had to wait until 1919 before they had another building they could call their Church. An old drill hall on Bowden Hill was converted into a small chapel by Father Barney, a priest from Exeter. This building was then purchased in 1928.

The recent history of the present Catholic Church, in Park Road (shown in the Home Page photograph), and the earlier church on Bowden Hill are detailed in the web site www.saintboniface.info

The present church serves a community of over two hundred. It was built in 1969 with funds raised by the parishioners and a generous donation from the Bishops of Germany. It's establishment owes a great deal to the life-long work and enthusiasm of Dom John Stéphan of Buckfast Abbey (Benedictine) in South Devon. He was an eminent historian and champion of St Boniface. He attended the laying of the foundation stone in 1969 and lived to see the completed church. He died on 2nd May 1976, aged 90, and is buried at Buckfast Abbey.

Unfortunately, Crediton is still not recognised as a distinct Parish by the Catholic Diocese which was re-established at Plymouth in 1850. This is curious for a community whose history includes the seat of the Saxon Bishopric as well as the oldest "parish boundary" in the County of Devon (see above). The Saxon boundary is comensurate with the area of residence of most of the present day parishioners. When the Catholic Diocese was re-established in 1850, the first mission churches were predominantly a response to Victorian economic circumstances and the wealth of local benefactors. Thus the modern diocese administration does not reflect the spiritual history of the region.

The present administration does not have formal parish boundaries, although moves are afoot among some of the clergy to rectify this omission. For many years, back to the time of Fr Stéphan, Crediton has made representations for its own presbytery. These have been thwarted. There are many reasons for establishing such premises, including the fact that Crediton now receives a large number of visiting priests among its pilgrim groups. Documents on this local struggle are available on receipt of a stamped addressed envelope. Meanwhile, if you place a value on the sustainability of the Catholic Church in Crediton, and the Shrine of St Boniface, please remember the community at Crediton in your thoughts and prayers. The birthplace of The Greatest Englishman, and one of Europe's greatest missionaries, is worthy of a more tangible recognition.

In acknowledgement of Boniface's missionary ideals, Crediton Catholic community supports the APF (Mill Hill Fathers) red mission box scheme, the BUSOGA Trust (digging wells in Uganda), and CAFOD, among others.

For current clergy information see Times of Mass.

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