Ancient Diocese of Exeter

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(EXONIA, ISCA DAMNONIORUM, CAER WISE, EXANCEASTER; EXONIENSIS).

English see, chosen by Leofric,Bishop of Crediton, as hiscathedral city in 1050. Originally Devonshire formed part of the Diocese of Wessex. About 703 Devonshire and Cornwall became the separate Bishopric of Sherborne and in 900 this was divided into two, the Devonshirebishop having hiscathedral at Crediton. The twodioceses were again united when Leofric became firstBishop of Exeter. The presentcathedral was begun by Bishop William de Warelhurst in 1112; theabbeychurch of St. Mary and St. Peter, founded by Athelstan in 932 and rebuilt in 1019, serving till then as thecathedral church. Thetransept towers built by Warelhurst still remain, being the only part of the Normancathedral existing. This Norman building was completed by Bishop Marshall at the close of the twelfth century. Thecathedral as it now stands is in the decorated style, being begun by Bishop Quivil (1280-1291), continued by Bytton and Stapeldon, and completed by the great Bishop Grandisson during his long pontificate of forty-two years, who left it much as it now stands. In many respects it resembles theFrenchcathedrals rather than those ofEngland. The special features of thecathedral are thetranseptal towers and the choir. The latter contains much earlystained-glass and a magnificent episcopal throne, and is separated from thenave by a choir-screen of singular beauty (1324). The absence of a central tower and a general lack of elevation prevent the building from ranking among the greatestEnglishcathedrals, though the stately west front is alone sufficient to render it remarkable.

Thebishops of Exeter always enjoyed considerable independence and thesee was one of the largest and richest inEngland. "TheBishop of Exeter," writes Professor Freeman, "like theArchbishop ofYork was the spiritual head of a separate people." The remoteness of thesee fromLondon prevented it from being bestowed on statesmen or courtiers, so that the roll ofbishops is more distinguished for scholars and administrators than for men who played a large part in national affairs. This was fortunate for the diocese and gave it a long line of excellentbishops, one of whom, Edmund Lacy, died with a reputation forsanctity and the working ofmiracles (1455). The result of this was seen in the fidelity with which Devonshire and Cornwall adhered to theCatholicFaith at the time of theReformation. The following are thebishops with the dates of their accession:

The diocese, originally very wealthy, was plundered during the reign ofHenry VIII, when Bishop Vesey was forced to surrender fourteen out of twenty-two manors, and the value of thebishopric was reduced to a third. Vesey, though aCatholic at heart, held thesee until 1551, when he was made to resign, and the Reformer, Miles Coverdale, was intruded into thesee, where he made himself most unpopular. On the accession of Mary, in 1553, Vesey was restored. He died in 1554 and was succeeded by James Turberville, beloved brCatholics andProtestants alike. He was deprived of thesee by Elizabeth in 1559 and died inprison, probably in or about 1570, the lastCatholicBishop of Exeter. The diocese contained four archdeaconries, Cornwall, Barnstaple, Exeter, and Totton, and six hundred and fourparishes. There wereBenedictine, Augustinian,Franciscan,Dominican, andNorbertine houses, and fourCistercianabbeys. Thecathedral was dedicated to St. Peter, and the arms of thesee were:Gules, a sword in pale blade and hilt proper, two keys in saltire or.

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