Church of the Holy Cross, Crediton

The Church of the Holy Cross stands in the centre of Crediton, a town in Devon. It occupies the site of the former cathedral of the Bishop of Crediton, which moved to Exeter in the 11th century. The present building’s nave and chancel date from the 15th century, though earlier parts remain. The church was once a collegiate foundation with canons and vicars, before the Reformation ended that arrangement. Today it serves as a parish church, still owned by the town’s governors and administered by a parochial council. Its Grade I listing recognises its long historical importance. The church’s past reaches back to the early 10th century when Crediton became a cathedral seat under Bishop Eadwulf. After the see moved to Exeter in 1050, the building survived as a collegiate church with its own canons. John de Grandisson, Bishop of Exeter in the 14th century, promoted the cult of St Boniface, linking Crediton to the saint’s birthplace. The 15th-century rebuilding created a Perpendicular Gothic interior of modest scale but impressive presence. After the Dissolution, townspeople bought the church to prevent its demolition and secured its future. Inside, visitors find a spacious nave and chancel framed by 15th-century arches. The chancel contains fine monuments, including effigies of William Peryam and Elizabeth Tuckfield, and the De Sully tombs. A heraldic window on the south wall displays arms of local families. The west tower arch holds a memorial to General Redvers Buller, a Victoria Cross holder. The War Memorial Organ, built in 1921, remains a central feature. The church’s quiet dignity and layered history make it a place where past and present meet.