A NON-RELIGIOUS couple who wanted to enjoy the romance of a

traditional church wedding have tied the knot in their dream

service.

Sarah and David Wines made their vows at the former church

of St Thomas in the hamlet of Travellers' Rest, near

Swimbridge, on Saturday.

The stone church, which is now a bed-and-breakfast business,

was built in 1866 and was still used as a place of worship

until 1970, when it was decommissioned and sold. It was

restored in the mid-1970s and adapted to become a home, but

retained many original features.

Although the marriage was strictly non-religious, the couple

were keen to enjoy the tranquil setting of a bucolic building,

surrounded by rolling acres of North Devon countryside.

The new Mrs Wines, 27, who lives in Barnstaple but who is

originally from Swimbridge, said: “We have been together for

nine years and we were looking for venues in North Devon.

“We wanted somewhere a bit different than the usual hotels

that people get married in.

“I always wanted a church wedding but I'm not religious in

any way.

“When I saw something that looked like a church, it meant I

could have a church wedding without it being religious.

“Swimbridge is where I grew up, so it was quite sentimental

to me.

“We went to have a look at the church and it was really

quirky and a bit different.”

She added: “I would have felt hugely hypocritical getting

married in a church. Churches are the most beautiful buildings,

so it's as close as I'm going to get. It's an old-fashioned

countryside wedding.”

The B&B is owned and run by Derek and Sue Pope who

retired to North Devon from Warwickshire in 2004. Mr Pope, a

former police officer, said the building appeared in a list of

civil wedding venues after their friends decided to get married

there and they had it registered with North Devon Council.

The Pope's friends postponed their wedding, but the venue

was still on the council's books when Ms Wearne, who teaches

English at Pilton Community College, and Mr Wines, 28, a

council highways worker, were looking for a romantic location

for their betrothal.

Mr Pope said many local people had been married in St

Thomas's church, which was built under the orders of the famous

“hunting parson” The Reverend Jack Russell, in the parish of

Swimbridge. Saturday's ceremony was the first wedding in the

building for more than 38 years.

The “church” still has an altar, a staircase made from wood

from pews, Victorian gothic doors, a hand-painted rood screen,

leaded windows, and a large stone fireplace.