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St Thomas's church linked to a terrier

St Thomas church

Reproduced with permission of Mark Jenkins

A little known connection

By Geoff Mitchell

I knew the vicar of St Thomas in the 1960s and early 70s. The vicar was the Reverend APR Mayne. He came to St Thomas from Sheepwash, I think its called, in North Devon. That was where a previous vicar had bred the first ever Jack Russell terrier. The breed is called after him, Jack Russell. They're recognised by the Kennel Club now. It's a little thing, a bit tenuous, but it might interest some people...

This page was added by Sarah, Curator of West Exe on 16/10/2007.

Comments about this page

You might be interested to know that there is a biography of the Reverend John Russell. He seems to have been something of a character. The blurb on the book cover asks, "Was he an irresponsible cleric without thought for anything but hunting? Or was he just a typical early-Victorian parish priest whose vocation took second place to his interest in field sports?"

Eleanor Kerr 1964 'Hunting Parson. The life and times of the Reverend John Russell.' London, Herbert Jenkins

It may be out of print but you could find it in a local library, second hand bookshop or on-line.

By John Madin, RAMM Curator of Art
On 07/11/2007

The story goes that the bishop, I believe it may have been Bishop Philpotts, visited the Rev. Jack Russell and requested that he give up hunting. Parson Russell readily agreed and promised to find a new owner for his pack of hounds. The bishop later discovered that Russell had given the pack to his wife.

By Tony Lethbridge
On 20/02/2008

Hi Im 14 Years Old And Im From St Thomas And Im Really Intrested In This Sort Of Things Comment Back

By charlotte
On 27/03/2009