88 KINGSBRIDGE 



The living of Dodbrooke is a rectory. The advowson 

 was appendant to the manor till 1790, when it was severed 

 and sold separately to the Rev. Benjamin Kennicott, at 

 that time rector (nephew of the celebrated Hebraist, B. 

 Kennicott, D.D.) The Rev. James Dewing was for many 

 years rector of this parish ; and on his removal to another 

 part of the country, the Rev. John Power, M.A., the 

 present rector, became his successor,, 



The Rectory House, which is an attractive-looking 

 dwelling, is situated almost close to one of the entrances 

 to the churchyard. 



The parish church, dedicated to St. Thomas a Becket, 

 is at the north end of the town. The tower was formerly 

 surmounted by a spire, which was taken down in 1785. 

 Many have remarked that the south side of the church 

 has a more finished appearance than the north side. This 

 is accounted for by the fact that the church is a nave and 

 south aisle only, which, perhaps, was thought sufficiently 

 large for the population at the time of its erection; and 

 it was, no doubt, expected that a north aisle would be 

 added at some time afterwards. 



There are a few tablets on the walls of the interior. 

 One of them has an epitaph in Latin to the memory of 

 Elizabeth, wife of John Beare, Esq., of Bearscombe (usually 

 spoken of as "Justice Beare"). She died in June, 1666. 

 Hawkins gives the following translation : — 



" What grief is this, O marble, say ? 

 A public loss, see ! shrouds the day : 

 Of purity the model true, 

 And modesty, — devotion too, 

 Is gone, (0 sad!) — who does not sigh, 

 Must more unfeeling be than I." 



A stained glass window has been placed at the south 



