St Michael's Church tower as it stands in 2007
Photo by Chris Jago
An eye witness account
By Chris Jago
The West Country Studies Library contains a fascinating little volume entitled 'Reminiscences of John Hele of Alphington, Devon'. It contains a vivid account of the moment when the tower of St Michael's church was struck by a bolt of lightning. During June 1826, there had been an election in Exeter and it was the custom for the church bells to be rung on this occasion. The Alphington bell-ringers were about their business in the tower of St Michael's when disaster struck. This is what John Hele wrote about the incident:
I remember the day was hot and sultry, they had rung one peal, when the atmosphere around Alphington and neighbourhood suddenly became very dark, and threatened the approach of a thunderstorm. I was in my master's house, opposite the church, when all at once a flash of lightning appeared like a ball of fire, struck the top part of the bell-chamber, where there is an iron span right through the tower, which the lightning struck against. Underneath the tower leading to the belfry stood seven men, and a boy outside, by the name of Coles, with a hammer is his hand. So violent was the flash of lightning and clap of thunder, that it dislodged from the tower many large stones, killed the boy dead on the spot, passed through the church escaping near the communion table, damaged the walls and also the Ten Commandments over the altar, obliteration many of the letters. I ran from my shop when I heard the crash. Such a peal of thunder and lightning I never heard before or since. I heard one of the ringers, George Heard, cooper, cry out "Come, come one, for God's sake". I jumped over the wall and ran to his assistance, and saw the young boy Coles lying on his back, his coat and shirt burning. I saw him open his mouth once, but he never spoke, and died instantly. I saw a great smother, dust and smoke coming out of the belfry door; there lay seven ringers, they were taken up and carried to the school-room. Dr Calder being near, came to their assistance, and found them severely shaken, but otherwise not hurt; their clothes were very much burnt. I was very much frightened, as were all the villagers, particularly those who lived near the church. There was a man passing opposite the church at the time, who was knocked from the centre of the road into my master's shop; he was not much hurt but apparently stunned and confused; on recovering he asked what the matter was. The news of the accident soon reached Exeter, and hundred came on the Sunday after to see the destruction that had taken place.
Reminiscences of John Hele of Alphington Devon; Westcounty Studies Library; p16