The Church Today

Services
Although the church is on the edge of the town we seek to be at the heart of the community and to serve it in the best way we can.  We are a growing church, with a good range of ages and backgrounds.  We have an active social programme and are trying to expand the range of our activities.  On the first Sunday of the month, we have a family service in the morning at 11.00. This is designed to be a shorter service and although primarily is for the younger ages, there is something for everyone. In the evening of the first Sunday, there is Holy Communion at 6.30pm. Our Sunday School, or "Jam" meets on other Sundays during the 11:00 service. We try to offer a range of worship to suit all tastes from informal to formal, from modern to traditional.  If you would like to join us you will be most welcome.
Stephen Cook
 

Music
In our church we have a robed senior/adult choir as well as a junior choir and a team of bell ringers. The senior choir sings mainly at evening services, choral evensong being a regular event. The choir sings a range of church music from all centuries and sources. We are a friendly group who enjoy singing and fellowship. Membership is open to all and we meet at All Saints' Church on Thursday evenings for practice at 7.15 - 8.30pm and for the service at 6.15pm for the 6.30pm service. The junior choir sings at 3 of the morning services per month; they meet on a Friday evening after school, again at All Saints Church. The bell ringers have their practice evening on a Wednesday and ring for both services most Sundays.

Church Guidebook
We have available to buy at a cost of £4, a fully illustrated guide book detailing the history of All Saints Church and St James' Chapel; written by Alan Endacott, a local historian and stained glass expert. Copies are available in bothAll Saints Church and St James Chapel; alternatively copies can be obtained from the Okehampton Museum.
 

What we stand for:

We are proud to be part of the Christian Church around the world and to affirm our unity with other chuches in the town. We understand the purpose of the church to be:

TELLING
Telling the good news of God's love for the world as shown to us in Jesus Christ.

NURTURING
Enabling Christians to grow in their understanding of God and of their faith

SERVING
PLaying our full part in the life of the town, helping it to be a safe and healthy community, seeking ways to put our faith into practice.

TRANSFORMING
 Recognising injustice in all its forms, speaking out against it and seeking to overcome it.

TENDING
Acknowledging our responsibility for the created world and trying to live in a sustaonable way.

We look forward to welcoming you to our beautiful church.

 Some pictures from some 'special' services although every service has its 'special' moments!

Church History

A Church has stood on this hill since Saxon times when the little hilltop village of Ocmundtune was closely grouped around its (probably wooden) Church and surrounded on all sides by dense forests. With the building of Okehampton Castle soon after 1066, present day Okehampton began to develop in the river valley and the little Saxon village was progressively abandoned.

.It is certainly known that a Church existed here prior to the first recorded consecration by Bishop Bronescombe of Exeter in 1261. The lovely medieval building, which resulted from a further re-building in 1447, was destroyed by fire in 1842. It was rebuilt again to this plan, by Hayward. The 80 foot granite ashlar tower alone survived the blaze and was incorporated into the rebuilt Church which, although somewhat larger, was designed, more or less on the lines of the previous one. There are remains of the old stone reredos against the west wall of the south aisle.The organ is reputed to be one of the finest in Devon.
The reredos is of stone and was built in 1891 by Hems and the choir stalls and altar rails date from 1892. The pulpit is a little older, buing installed in 1872. There are several fine stained glass windows in the church, notably one south window by Morris and Co. depicting St Cecilia and the Angels. The North Window is by the Kemp studios and others are by Ward and Hughes. In the Lady Chapel there is a small section of medieval glass displayed in a cabinet beside the altar.