The Parish Church of St Cyr and St Julitta
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Newton St Cyres Church |
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The church is a Grade I Listed building with its earliest part dating from the 12th Century.
Worship on the site spans over 1,000 years back to the Monks of Saint Peter’s Church, Exeter. Newton St. Cyres Church stands historically between the two religious centres of Crediton (2 ½ miles) and Exeter (4 ½ miles). The resulting interior is a thing of quite exceptional character. It has lightness, delicacy and openness that is appreciated by all those who visit the church. The best fittings, monuments and decorations of earlier centuries are retained. The church and churchyard contain visible heritage going back over 500 years and rare monuments to James II, the Northcote and Quicke families (Squires of the Parish). |
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Parochial Church Council (PCC) |
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The Church is situated in Newton St Cyres and is part of Cadbury Deanery in the Diocese of Exeter.
The Parochial Church Council (PCC) is a body corporate and is a charity excepted from registration with the Charity Commission.
The PCC works to consult and co-operate with the minister, to enable God’s mission and to care for the people, buildings and churchyard of the local community within the compliance of the law.
PCC members who have served from 1st January 2019, except as noted, until the date this report was approved are:
The Parochial Church Council (PCC) is a body corporate and is a charity excepted from registration with the Charity Commission.
The PCC works to consult and co-operate with the minister, to enable God’s mission and to care for the people, buildings and churchyard of the local community within the compliance of the law.
PCC members who have served from 1st January 2019, except as noted, until the date this report was approved are:
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Ex Officio members:
Rector: Revd Katie Louise Cross Associate Minister: Revd Prebendary Sue Sheppard Associate Minister: Revd Julia Dallen Curate: Revd Julia Hocking [14 September 2019] |
Sue Browne (Churchwarden & representative of the
Deanery Synod) Linda Smith (Vice Chairman) Pita Burt (Secretary) Brian Please (Treasurer) Clive Lawrence (Fabric Officer) Lynette Costello (representative on Deanery Synod) Anne Page Linda Smith Alex Berkley |
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The Netherexe Parishes |
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The Netherexe parishes are a community of nine churches in the Diocese of Exeter serving the communities of Brampford Speke, Cadbury, Newton St Cyres, Poltimore with Huxham, Rewe with Netherexe, Stoke Canon, Thorverton and Upton Pyne.
The churches of the Netherexe parishes together form a 'Mission Community', which commits itself to maintaining a worshipping, witnessing community within all our parishes and making the gospel known to people of all ages and backgrounds. The Netherexe Parishes, PO Box 734, Stoke Canon, Exeter, EX5 4WP. Website: http://www.netherexe.org/ |
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Church Services |
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The Church seeks to maintain a regular pattern of Sunday Services throughout the year with additional services for festivals (e.g. Easter, Harvest, Patronal, Christmas). These may vary in a particular month. Further details can be found in the ‘Newton Wonder’ and ‘In Touch’ magazines.
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The Story of St Cyr & St Julitta |
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The Church is dedicated to St Cyr and his mother Julitta of Iconium, who suffered martyrdom at Tarsus in Cilicia in the Diocletian persecution 16 June 305.
The story is told on the three panels of the Lady Chapel altarpiece. The originals, painted in the 15th century, are in the Courtauld Institute Gallery in London. On the left , Julitta, A Roman lady who lived in Iconium in Asia Minor, is standing before the local Governor, defying the Emperor Diocletian’s edict which bans Christianity. Her son, Cyr, stands beside her. In the middle of the picture Cyr appears twice – praying on his knees and then taken up on the Governor’s lap. The Govenor is trying to persuade him to get his mother to change her mind, and Cyr slaps his face saying “I am a Christian too”. In the right hand panel, the Governor stabs Cyr in the face and throws him down the steps. Julitta is barbarously put to death while Cyr with his dying breath encourages her to be brave. |
Why did a Devon village dedicate its church to
two obscure martyrs from what is now Turkey?
Perhaps, the story, like that of St George, caught
the imagination of English Crusaders. There are
other churches with this dedication in Britain,
and many more in France.
two obscure martyrs from what is now Turkey?
Perhaps, the story, like that of St George, caught
the imagination of English Crusaders. There are
other churches with this dedication in Britain,
and many more in France.
Triptych in the Lady Chapel
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Church Layout |
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Churchyard |
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The churchyard is the most poignant reminder of the individuals who have lived and served the village over centuries. It is the most significant act of remembrance and respect by those closest to the deceased.
The facts and sentiments recorded on the gravestones, many of which are no longer there or illegible, are an important historical asset for the community.
The maintenance of the churchyard and the records of the graves is a commitment all communities make in remembrance of those who came before us.
The facts and sentiments recorded on the gravestones, many of which are no longer there or illegible, are an important historical asset for the community.
The maintenance of the churchyard and the records of the graves is a commitment all communities make in remembrance of those who came before us.
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These 2 documents are aimed at providing as comprehensive a record as possible of the churchyard.
In 1985/86 much work was done to record the graves in preparation for a clearance of many of the uninscribed kerbstones in order to permit the maintenance of the grounds. The latest analysis builds on this work and seeks to bring it up to date in a format accessible and useable by the Church, the community and visitors to the Church. |