AN entertaining talk at Crediton about Devonian Sabine Baring-Gould was the second of two events devoted to him organised by the Devonshire Association Literature and Art Section.

The first was in September, a visit to Lewtrenchard Manor where Baring-Gould lived for more than 50 years, where he died aged 90 in 1924. The house is now an hotel. Other places were visited.

This month a talk on "Baring-Gould: Man of Faith, Man of Letters" was given by the Rev Preb Norman Wallwork who lives near Exeter and is an authority on Baring-Gould’s writings.

Mr Wallwork concentrated on the many novels Baring-Gould wrote, partly to pay for the elaborate and remarkable conversions of his house.

He produced more than 100 significant books, 1,000 articles in more than 300 magazines, journals and newspapers.

Baring-Gould was 30 when he published "Onward Christian Soldiers" and many hymns and carols followed, plus collecting folk songs.

Mr Wallwork touched on Baring-Gould’s recording the history of Cornwall and Devon, his geological work and as a topographer, being an historian and High Anglican protagonist.

The next Devonshire Association meeting to be held in the Boniface Centre, Crediton, is the Geology Section at 10.30am on November 25 when Dr Adrian Bond will lecture on "Exploring the relationship between oceanic lithosphere from Start Point and the Lizard metamorphic complexes of Devon and Cornwall. "

The literature and Art Section will be back at the Boniface Centre for its annual meeting on February 3.

Sue Read