ALL Saints Parish Church in Okehampton celebrates the 750th anniversary of its official consecration on July 31, and will celebrate the occasion with a series of events throughout July.

The church stands on the same spot as many successive churches before it, dating back to Anglo-Saxon times.

All Saints Church was officially consecrated in 1621 by Bishop Bronscombe of Exeter.

Only the 80 foot granite ashlar tower remains of the medieval church, as it was mostly destroyed by fire in 1842.

The church was rebuilt to the medieval plan, and the remaining tower was incorporated into the rebuild.

The events throughout July are designed to invite and involve the people who have had their lives touched by the church in some way.

Three of the events will have a theme relating to three of the ceremonies that bring people to church — baptisms, weddings and funerals.

There will also be an event to reveal the church's long and rich history, and another to celebrate the church's long tradition of supporting Missions to Seafarers, which provides practical and spiritual support to seafarers around the world.

The month's events will conclude with a special service to mark the actual date of the church's consecration 750 years ago.

More information about each event will be published in the Times in the coming weeks.