The following curious certificate is given in the preface to a work by the Rev. John Heydon, dedicated to Sir Thomas Fairfax, the title page of which reads:—
The Discovery of the wonderfull preservation of his Excellencie Sir Thomas Fairfax, The Army, the Records of the Town, the Library, and blessed Bible, under the hands of the Maior, Aldermen, Capt. and Schoolmaster of Torrington in Devon. In an Epistle to his Excellency (and also in the end of a Book, entituled, Man’s Badnesse and God’s Goodnesse: or, some Gospel Truths laid down, vindicated and explained), by his Excellencies speciall Command. Never Printed heretofore by any. By John Heydon, Minister of the Gospel. London, Printed by M. Simmons, 1647.
The certificate runs:—
We whose names are here subscribed do testifie, that when the Publick place of God’s worship was blown up by a hellish plot, and his Excellency was wonderfully preserved, there fell out by Divine Providence, that which we look upon as mira non mirabilia, viz., though both the Books of Common Prayer were blown up or burnt, yet the blessed Bible was preserved and not obliterated, although it were blown away; and also the Library, and the books, together with the Records of the Town were wonderfully preserved: I do testifie, John Voysey, Maior. We also testifie, Richard Gay, William White Capt., John Ward, Henry Semor Schoolmaster, and John Heydon Minister of the Gospel. And I shall be ready to shew the Originall to whomsoever desires it, and craves condigne punishment if the Originall be adulterated.
Further on Mr. Heydon says:—
Now the Lord confirm you in the true grace of God wherein you stand, and make you more instrumentall to the Kingdom and Nations that are Christian the world over, and make you a leading peece to all Generals that now are, or shall be here after, and move your heart to pity the Town of Torrington, and as much as in you lyes, to erect a publick Place for God’s worship there, upon the Publique Stock; the people being poore, yet those that are Christian, both Magistrates and Commanders, that have little incouragement from those that they have adventured their lives for, and expended their estates, for their safety; the Lord put better hearts into them I say, those are thankefull to God, and have gladly received those that would impart the Gospel to them, and keep dayes of Thanksgiving, etc., for so great a deliverance, and though they stand in the open streets, neither cold nor rain can deter them from it; they being true Eagles will feed on the carkasse Christ in the Gospel purely preach’t, as Mr. Peters and divers of the Army can witnesse, and their own testimony for my self annexed, that spent a day by way of Thanksgiving since my being under the Command of Coll. Henry Gray, as it follows word for word in their Certificate annexed, the 20. Decemb. 1646: This day Mr. John Heyden Chaplain to the Honorable Coll. Gray, did powerfully preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ in Torrington magna, to the great comfort and incouragement of that great audience which were present.—John Voysey Maior, Richard Gay, John Harwood, John Ward, William White, and Henry Semor.
The blowing up of the Church of Great Torrington is recorded on two stones built into the walls of the south transept. The inscriptions on these stones run as follows:—
This Chvrch was blowen up with Powder Febry ye 16th ano 1645 and rebuilt Ad 1651;
and
This Church was re-erected ano Domini 1651.