Crediton - Church of the Holy Cross

The "Collegiate Church of the Holy Cross and Mother of Him Who Hung Thereto" is the parish church of Crediton. Crediton having been chosen as the site for the Cathedral of Devon and Cornwall in the early 10th century. Today´s church was built on the site of the former Bishop´s cathedral. However, in 1050 the bishop's see was moved to Exeter and just a college of canons remained in Crediton.

Construction began on a Norman church on the present site and a collegiate church was built there. The church was extended in the late 13th century with the addition of St Mary's Chapel and the chapter house.

A medieval will stipulated that the Norman nave was to be demolished and rebuilt in the perpendicular Gothic style at the beginning of the 15th century.

After the college was dissolved during the English Reformation, the Crediton Church Corporation bought the church, which was threatened with demolition, for the parish in 1547.


The rage of the iconoclasts who attacked the church after the Reformation is still visible.

The Adoration of the Magi may be in the centre.