New gargoyle commemorates appointment of Devon’s first woman bishop

A new gargoyle in the shape of a Bishop’s mitre, marking the appointment of the first woman bishop in Devon, is to be unveiled this weekend.

The new gargoyle on the church of St Mary, Aylesbeare replaces one lost from the church decades ago, and joins the three remaining gargoyles on the 15th century tower.

It was designed to mark the appointment of Bishop Sarah Mullally as the new bishop of Crediton in 2015. She was the first woman bishop in the South West, and the fourth in the country as a whole.

Bishop Sarah will unveil the new gargoyle at a public celebration in the churchyard this Sunday.

The gargoyle was designed by Clyst St Mary architects, GJR Conservation, in consultation with Bishop Sarah, and it was created by local stonemason David Cornick.

The stone mitre, which juts out from the tower, has additional symbols on it to reflect Bishop Sarah’s previous career as a nurse and her honour as Dame Commander of the British Empire for her contribution to nursing and midwifery. Inscribed on the top is the badge of the Nightingale Training School and underneath is carved the Dame Commander of the British Empire Medal, with the rod of Asclepius, symbolising medicine and healthcare.

Bishop Sarah said: “Church buildings have always spoken of God’s love and the story of God’s people. I feel very privileged that the story of God’s people in Aylesbeare tells of my consecration as bishop and my appointment as the first women bishop in the Diocese of Exeter. I am grateful to David Cornick for his craftsmanship in carving the gargoyle and I pray that not just the church building but also the people will continue to tell of God’s generous love.”

An anonymous donor from Aylesbeare gave the money for the design and creation of the gargoyle. The church has had to carry out extensive work to the tower, after the stonework was eroded by the weather.

Rev Karen Spray, Rector of the White Cross Mission Community which includes Aylesbeare, said: “Normally on a church you have to replace like for like, but because the original gargoyle was long lost, we were able to start from scratch and start from where we are now as a church. We wanted to commemorate the appointment of the first woman bishop in Devon in some way and this was a great opportunity.”