The pictures of the church at Sheldon where taken by John & Caryl Sparks
they visit the church and the area two or three times a year
in the process they gathered together information
They would like to share with you.
St James The Greater church
at Sheldon (Schilden
Men Like William Blackmore and ,John Sparks of our family history where church wardens and trustees.
of this church.
Early in the fifteenth century very significant changes where made in the tower of the church at Sheldon
to accommodate new bells
A new larger window was placed above the tower doorway
A side door to the tower was bricked up to add strength to the tower walls
Supposedly to support the bells Its hard to understand the logic of bricking up a doorway
to strengthen a structure then to go and place a large window just above
the bricked up doorway the first bell was cast by Robert Norton of Exeter
later his second bell was added these two bells carried the inscription
“Est michi collatum I H S istud nomen amatum”
This Bell Gathers together the people to worship in the name and love of Jesus.
The two bells were in use for over two hundred years in 1628 a
Third bell joined them. This bell was sold some years ago it had become cracked
when removal work was in progress they found one of the Robert Norton Bells lying disused
This also was cracked it was brought down to the church floor for all to see
One winters night February 1981 thieves stole the bell
you could see in the snow the wheel marks of the trolley
they used to get it away from the church .
The Font of Sheldon Church
Standing around the Font of the church is the Spittle family
Paul Liam Caryl Kyle and Emma.
Caryl who’s maiden name was Sparks is a direct descendant of the Sparks
Of Sheldon who where baptised at this font
Kyle Liam and Emma are direct descendants of the people
Depicted in the history of the Sparks family
Through the line of their mother Caryl.
This History and the connections to related families
Can be found by using the links to other
Pages and web sites that one finds throughout
The pages of this web site.
The Alter of Sheldon Church.
The alter of the church here the Sparks Blackmore and related families worshipped and were married
where prayers where said at their Burial.
This is the original alter and screen it is fortunate that it survives
For in the mid 1990’s a man with a grudge against the churches committed arson on a number of churches
Throughout the Honiton area Sheldon was also set on fire but little damage was done accept to the
Alter this has been repaired.
The arsonist was finally apprehended by police and sentenced
It is a sad reflection on these days that some people have little regard for historical values
When we consider the theft of the Norton Bell presumable for melting down
Also the setting fire to historical items within a church.
The side view of Sheldon
church
The sidewall of the tower showing the bricked up doorway and the window built above it
This work was carried out in the early Fifteenth century
The rear view of Sheldon
church.
Caryl standing looking at the last resting place of many of the Sparks and Blackmore
and related families of Sheldon.
The font of Sheldon Church.
The timber roof beams inside
Sheldon church.
A second view of the front
of Sheldon church.
Christina with Brother John Sparks
and Caryl his wife sitting in front.
at the church of Sheldon
Christina and John descendants
Of the Sparks of the Village
The Non conformist chapel
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