The 1952 Meteor Strike
A Night in History
On a cold night in January 1952, a meteor struck our Church St. Mary’s in our small hill-top village of Morchard Bishop, Devon, marking a rare and remarkable event in local history. St. Mary’s, a medieval parish church, became the unexpected focus of national attention due to this extraordinary celestial incident, which left the village shaken but miraculously caused no casualties.
The Incident
The meteor strike occurred during the early hours of the morning when most of the village was asleep. Witnesses who were awake at the time reported hearing a loud, explosive noise that reverberated through the town, akin to the sound of thunder. Some residents also saw a bright flash of light in the sky just before the impact. Initially, there was confusion about what had happened, with some villagers fearing it might have been a bomb or a catastrophic accident.
When dawn broke, it became clear that something unusual had occurred at St. Mary’s Church. Upon investigation, locals discovered that a portion of the church roof had been damaged by what was soon identified as a meteorite. The strike had caused significant damage to the structure, with stones from the roof and parts of the ceiling scattered on the ground inside the church.
The meteorite itself, or fragments of it, were found embedded in the debris. These fragments were dark, metallic, and jagged, showing clear signs of the high velocity and heat they experienced upon entering the Earth’s atmosphere. Though small in size, the meteorite caused a considerable amount of damage due to the force of its impact.
St Mary’s Rector, Rev. H.J.A. Rusbridger, seeing the damage for himself.
The Aftermath
The damage to St. Mary’s Church was quickly assessed by both local authorities and scientists who arrived to study the meteorite. Fortunately, no one had been inside the church at the time, so there were no injuries. The meteorite strike became a source of fascination for both the village and the wider scientific community. It is exceedingly rare for meteorites to make landfall in such a populated area, let alone to strike a historic building.
Repairs to the church roof were carried out swiftly, with the church’s congregation rallying to ensure the historic building was restored. The meteor fragments were examined by experts in astronomy and geology, and some of them were later kept as part of a local historical collection, becoming a point of curiosity and pride for Morchard Bishop.
Cultural & Historical Impact
For the people of Morchard Bishop, the meteor strike on St. Mary’s Church became a defining event in the village’s modern history. While the church had stood for centuries, surviving wars and the passage of time, this sudden event from the heavens added an almost mythic chapter to its story. Over the years, the incident was recounted many times in local lore, with visitors occasionally coming to the village to hear about the strange event that had befallen this quiet Devon community.
The strike on St. Mary’s Church is one of the few documented cases of a meteorite hitting a building in the UK, and it remains a notable event in both local and scientific history. To this day, the story of the 1952 meteor strike is a reminder of how even the most unexpected occurrences—forces from outer space—can leave a lasting impression on a small village like Morchard Bishop.
Scaffolding
Over 8,000 feet of Steel Piping was used for this. It took the 5 men, 10 days to erect. The photograph was taken at the time, April 28th, 1952
Electric Supply
Much damage was done to the Electricity Supply, especially in the Tower and Vestry. Repairs were carried out by the South Western Electricity Supply Company.
Rebuilding
The Architect was Mr P. G. Prewett, Diocesan Surveyor, and the builders Messrs Berry and Vincent of Crediton.
The men in the photograph above are the Stonemasons who did the work from May – June 1952
An Album of the Meteorite Strike
Produced and printed by Rev. H. J. A Rusbridger, Mrs F. Rusbridger & Mr D Tipper, the album is a collection of cuttings and photographs, along with a list of everyone who contributed to the cost of reconstruction.