THE Friends of Eggesford All Saints Trust (FEAST) will present a local history exhibition about the church and the vast aristocratic estate (at its peak over 16,000 acres, with many farms and villages) held by families of regional and national importance, such as the de Reigneys, Chichesters and Fellowes, and later the Earls of Portsmouth, on Sunday, September 14.

Discover the connections to Julian Fellowes and his acclaimed TV and film series “Downton Abbey”.

Cream teas and refreshments will be served in the beautifully positioned churchyard from 11am to 5pm. Access to the church and exhibition is free.

FEAST rescued All Saints Church from closure by the Church of England in the 1990s.

A Grade II* listed church with rectors from the C13, it has a C14/C15 tower and impressive C17 Chichester monuments, along with later estate owner William Fellowes' C18 monument. The 1867 restoration by the 5th Earl of Portsmouth installed an unusually large family pew, and moved the remarkable Earl of Donegall monument to opposite today's entrance in the nave, fronted by rare Georgian box pews.

The church was included by historian Dr Todd Gray in his “Devon's Fifty Best Churches”: “This is a building dominated by a need to be remembered and to do so ostentatiously... The monuments dominate the church and are, according to Miss Cresswell a century ago, more suited to a cathedral than to a small village church... the first great monument... is the only one of its kind in Devon... in the east end of the chapel is a third monument which catches the eye. This massive collection of marble dates from the early eighteenth century and demonstrates the change in taste to classical imagery... Notice also the Tortoise Stove with the motto slow but sure combustion.”

The Chichesters' earlier Eggesford House was adjacent, before being rebuilt in the early C19 as today's grand Grade II building higher up the valley, still visible from the church.

The original walled garden nearby is now in private hands.

The secluded churchyard, with views over earlier parkland and the Taw valley, has Fellowes and Churchill chest tombs and access to the Portsmouth vault, resting place for the 4th and 5th Earls (closed for this event).

Pre-booking not required. Parking is available by the church (EX18 7QU) or access via the Tarka Line (Eggesford Station, some 10 minutes’ walk) and the Tarka Trail.

The recently published history of Eggesford and the estate – “The Portsmouth Connection” – will be on sale, along with a variety of second-hand books.

Visitors can chat to local historian and author Jonathan Crofts for more information.