Churches in the Parish
There are 3 churches serving our villages, and all are part of the Otter Vale Team Ministry: St Luke's at Newton Poppleford, and 2 churches of St Gregory the Great, one each at Harpford and Venn Ottery.
Times of services and other church activities are published in the Parish Magazine (Newton Poppleford and Harpford), Tipton Times (Venn Ottery) and on the church notice-boards. Alternatively, please contact the vicar.
NEWTON POPPLEFORD
In the centre of Newton Poppleford is the church of St Luke's, with a small but comfortable Church Hall, and conveniently adjacent to our FREE car park!
There is worship at St Luke's Church every Sunday at 9.30am and less frequently at 8am. Additionally there are a number of church groups meeting in the parish.
HARPFORD
The ancient parish of Harpford has the pretty church of St Gregory the Great, and was granted by Bishop Henry Marshall to the Abbey of S Michel in Normandy in 1205. The tower dates to the 15th century and has undergone various 'conservation and restoration' works over the centuries, not all of which were beneficial.
Harpford church has a service every Sunday using the Book of Common Prayer. Times vary week by week.
VENN OTTERY
In Venn Ottery we have yet another church of St Gregory the Great. This is one of the older churches in Devon, with the Saxon church tower dating back to about 1095. The tower is built of local red stone, and the original nave had a thatched roof, although today it is slated following a disastrous fire in the 18th century.
The top of the tower was found to be deteriorating badly, but extensive renovation of the stonework in 2005 has ensured its stability for the time being. The timber floor was also in very poor condition and in 2004 had to be renewed, entailing the temporary removal of the ancient carved benches for which the church had previously been noted.
There are two Sunday services each month at Venn Ottery. The church works closely with the adjacent parish of Tipton St John.