Architectural Features
Unusually grand, matching, late Perpendicular details (panelled soffits to internal arches, a stone chancel screen) indicate a major refashioning of the church in the late C15/early C16, probably associated with a chantry to Thomas Chard, "probably titular bishop of Salubria" (Hoskins), who was born at Tracey (q.v.) in the same parish.
Inside, the porch has a shallow stone rib vault, the ribs carried on corner shafts, with a central roundel and carved bosses.
5 irregularly-spaced 3-light Perpendicular north windows and a probably C16 north door, the frame moulded with an almost flat arch and a hoodmould, the studded plank door probably also C16.
The south transept, probably the Chard chantry, has wide buttresses with set-offs to the south face and a very large, grand 5-light south window, entirely renewed in the C19 in Bathstone on the exterior but with medieval masonry on the inner face.
The right (east) return of the transept has a C16 square-headed volcanic window with trefoil-headed lights.
Embattled 3-stage west tower with moulded strings, gargoyles below the battlements and an unsually large, rectangular, projecting south-east stair turret of diminishing stages, the turret embattled and rising above the height of the tower proper.
Interior: Plastered walls, some of the wall plaster early, possibly with wallpaintings concealed by limewash, the remains of a painted Royal Arms survive over the south door.
5-bay north arcade, the piers diagonally-set with corner shafts, the capitals with carved foliage bosses and the arches shallow-moulded.
Nave roof probably dates from the 1886-7 restoration by Fulford: an open wagon boarded behind with 2 tiers of cresting to the wall plate and heavy carved bosses.
Ceiled wagon with carved bosses to the south transept.
Grand 5-bay Beerstone chancel screen, presumably early C16 with considerable restoration work.
commandment boards in elaborate stone frames with ogee gables, pinnacles and a good Gothic script for the text are probably late 1840s or 1850s, the poppyhead choir stalls may be of the same date incorporating some medieval woodwork.
Nave fitting also C19, a set of benches and a matching,pulpit and timber lectern of 1887 designed by Fulford, carved by Hems of Exeter.
an octagonal Beerstone bowl carved with quatrefoils, the stem with shallow panels and miniature buttresses.
Probably C18 hatchment hanging in the transept.
Monuments: Several white marble wall plaques: one to Daniel Pring, died 1791
a Greek Medieval wall plaque to John Pring Esq of Ivedon (q.v.), died 1820 with a profile head in a medallion, signed Peter Rouw, Modeller to His Majesty, New Rd., London
In the chancel aisle a wall monument to Captain Daniel Pring, died 1846 showing a bust in a framed niche, signed Newman's, Sidmouth.
Stained Glass: Remains of a C15 or early C16 medieval scheme by the Doddiscombesleigh school in the head tracery of the north aisle.
These small pieces in the east window of the North aisle of St Michael and All Angels church are the "remains of a C15 or early C16 medieval scheme by the Doddiscombesleigh school" http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-87016-church-of-st-michael-and-all-angels-awlis . Cherry & Pevsner mention "a few tiny medieval fragments brought from Ivedon House, to where glass from the chantry had migrated" in the east window of the south transept - I wonder if they mean this window?
Memorial window in the north aisle to Neumann (q.v. Tracey), dated 1898, probably by Percy Bacon
memorial window in south aisle to Porter, 1913 by Blanchford.
An unusual grand church with impressive Medieval and C19 features.