A brief history of St. Paul’s Church

St. Paul's Church sits in the centre of Honiton, towering over the High Street. 

The building was completed in 1838 and was designed by architect Charles Fowler. It is a Grade II listed building (of which Honiton has more than 100.)

The church cost £7600, but it did need repairs soon after it opened. 

Charles Fowler was born in Cullompton in 1792 and educated in Exeter. 

St. Paul's church was not originally the main church of Honiton - this was St. Michael's church which is situated at the top of Church Road. St. Michael's dates from the 15th century and served the people of Honiton for 400 years. 

The new church was built to serve the growing population of Honiton and it was known as the 'chapel of ease', due to its central location. 

Before St. Paul's Church could be built, an Act of Parliament needed to be passed and part of the medieval Allhallows Chapel needed to be destroyed.

Due to the existing High Street, St. Paul's Church is situated on an unusual north-south axis, rather than the usual east-west. 

The new church was designed in a style which included elements of Romanesque architecture, such as pinnacles on the tower and tall columns within the arcades. It was built using local chert and Beer Stone.

A local resident named Matthew Murch designed the clock in the tower. 

There is a clerestory above the nave which is not dissimilar to early Christian basilicas.

The church's tower is 104 feet high and is a striking landmark within the Otter Valley. 

Presently, the back portion of the church (close to the entrance) has been sectioned off for coffee mornings, displays and other events. Inside the main section of the church there is a children's section with colouring.