Doccombe Chapel

Doccombe Manor had a long association with the Church, which held the lordship of the manor from 1173 until 1864. For many centuries, Doccombe had its own chapel and priest. The last known reference to the old chapel, in 1828, described it as “desecrated”. It was probably on the land of what is now Great Doccombe Farm.

In 1864, the manor was sold to the Gregory family. Fourteen years later, in 1878, J. B. Gregory, Lord of the Manor, gave an eighteenth-century cob-and-granite building with a thatched roof for use as a mission chapel. It was intended especially for the stoneworkers who had moved from Cornwall to work at nearby Blackingstone Quarry.

Between 1921 and 1923, Ellen and Elizabeth Gregory conveyed the chapel to the Exeter Diocesan Trust for £10 with responsibility for its upkeep resting with the parishioners of Moretonhampstead. A copy of the conveyance, originally held in the parish chest, is preserved in Moretonhampstead Archives. In 1935, the thatch was replaced with corrugated asbestos-cement roofing at a cost of £20, paid by the Parochial Church Council. Doccombe has been within the authority of Dartmoor National Park since 1951 and the building was Grade II listed (Listing NGR: SX7758986811) in 1987 During the 1980s, the interior was refurbished with support from a Churches’ Trust grant.

Bishops of Exeter have attended services at the chapel on at least two occasions, in 1886 and 1970. The 1970 service was to mark the 800^th anniversary of the murder of Archbishop Becket and was also attended by a dozen priests representing churches in Devon dedicated to St Thomas Becket. Services were held twice a month during the 1950s and 1960s, and subsequently once a month until about five years ago. Baptisms and at least one wedding have taken place within living memory. Today, Harvest Festival and Christmas services continue to be well attended by residents of Doccombe and Moretonhampstead. The Chapel is now part of the North Dartmoor Whiddon Team Ministry and features on their website.

Since the pub closed in 1921, the chapel has provided the hamlet’s only communal meeting space. Alongside worship, it has hosted Christmas parties following carol services, talks, reminiscence evenings, history displays, concerts and Pilates classes. It is currently also home to a film club, continuing its role as a place where people can meet and enjoy village life.