The St Mary's Church tower dates back to 1259 when this was the only church and graveyard in the town. The rest of the church looks old, but in fact it is quite modern having been rebuilt and enlarged between 1862 and 1865 during a period of prosperity in Bideford. In fact it was noted that there was no shortage of wealthy church-going families willing to contribute to the then mammoth rebuilding, at the time the total cost for this rebuilding work was £5250.

Historians believe that the church was sited in this location because it is close to the heart of the town, and at the foot of a steep hillside, where due to the downward creep there was a fair depth of soil, which is a necessity for a graveyard. Up until its closure in 1849 this was the only burial ground in the town, which, because of the enormous pressure on the available space, led to the present layout.

One point of interest is that St Mary’s Church paths have not sunken down over the years, which can be a common factor in most churches. This is due to the vast number of bodies buried for at least 600 years. In fact the ground on both sides of the paths has actually risen.

Tourist Tip: - Look for the main benefactors who contributed to the rebuilding work on the church. They have all been immortalised in the carved heads around the exterior of the church.