The Church of St. George the Martyr, Dean Prior, is a delightful 
14th Century church offering a warm welcome and an atmosphere of friendly fellowship and quiet, spiritual reflection. 

SERVICE TIMES:

1st Sunday of month 
9:30 am Holy Communion

2nd Sunday of month 
9:30 am Morning Service
UNTIL MARCH 2010 WHEN THERE WILL BE NO SERVICE 
ON 2ND SUNDAY

 3rd Sunday of month 
9:30 am Holy Communion 

 4th Sunday of month 
9:30 am Holy Communion 

5th Sunday of month 
9:30 am Morning Prayer/ Family Service*

* Unless these are festival days*


Whilst these services are typically traditional with Holy Communion from the Book of Common Prayer and readings from the King James Bible, we enjoy a modern range of hymns. 

The Parish of Dean Prior: A large area of the small rural parish of Dean Prior is within the Dartmoor National Park. The main village of Dean is divided into Lower and Higher Dean with a separate hamlet of Deancombe and has a population of 160 inhabitants. However, the parish was inevitably affected when it was cut in two by the construction of a dual carriageway. 

We are a small congregation of largely retired parishioners who love Dean Prior Church and we are most grateful to those volunteers who help us with the upkeep of the church grounds. God Bless them. 
We very much welcome young people and families. 

The Church is located adjacent to the A38 Devon Expressway, between Exeter and Plymouth. You can see the St. George's flag flying proudly above the Bell Tower. There is a pull-off parking bay at the front and a Car Park at the rear of the Church, just up the lane on the left.  

DATES FOR THE DIARY: 2009

Carols by Candlelight
Sunday 13th Dec 3.30pm  
with punch, mince pies and Christmas cheer. Splendid choir singing. Come see our wonderful knitted Nativity


Copies of the Miscellany 
can be purchased at 
the Church
for £2.50 GBP each

A Dean Prior Miscellany with local historical information 
and pictures has been published to raise money for the 
Church Repair Fund.
Lovers of the 17th century English poet Robert Herrick may already be aware that he was the Dean Prior Vicar from 1629 to 1674, except during the Cromwellian period when he was evicted. Herrick  was Born in August 1591, in London and Died in October 1674, in Dean Prior. Said to be a dynamic preacher, he was once reputed to have thrown his sermon at the congregation when he did not feel they were paying attention! 


We look forward to welcoming you.
 God Bless

 A small inscribed window pane on the East side of the Church commemorates his incumbency. The Church of St. George the Martyr has, therefore, become a place of pilgrimage to visitors from around the globe. However, Herrick was not actually buried at Dean Prior. There is also a plaque in the grave yard to commemorate his incumbency at Dean Prior for those who enjoy investigating and researching.

The great yew tree in the churchyard was planted in 1780. The lytch gate was built last century and replaced the church house and alms houses. The village surrounding the church, once included a school, and many cottages, these were all pulled down to build the new road through. Around the church, now lying directly to the left of the main road, had been ‘Church Town, with its cottages, church house and school and across the valley and now on the other side of the A38, lie Upper  Dean and Deancombe. 
Lower Dean lies to the left of the A38.  

HERRICK REFERENCE LIBRARY 

The Church owns a library of books containing biographies and collections of Robert Herrick's work. 
These books are to be housed in Exeter. 
Anyone interested, is welcome to make an appointment to view them. 
 Please email 
Mr. Simon Baker, 
entitling your email Herrick Library