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St Peter

Meavy

Devon

Norman core with some C13 fabric, the remainder C15.

Architectural Features

The oldest feature of the church is the square north pier to the chancel arch, apparently of Norman date.

The church was totally reconstructed in the C13 from the evidence of the chancel with the South Chapel probably early C14

it may have been cruciform although only the south transept now survives and this contains no features earlier than C15.

The fact that the tower is unbuttressed suggests that it may be pre-C15 but its west window and doorway are Perpendicular in style.

The south aisle and porch were added in the C15.

On the north side the nave has a late C15 3-light window with cinquefoiled heads - the central one taller -towards the West end.

To its left is early C16 4-light window with segmental heads to the lights and square hoodmould.

The south chapel has a circa early C14 east window of 2-lights with Y-tracery and a similar window on its south wall.

To the left of this is a late C15 arched granite window with 2 cinquefoiled lights.

The single storey C15 south porch has a stone cross at its apex.

The bowl of the holy water stoup is carved in the shape of a grotesque face.

C15 south doorway has pointed granite arch with hollow and convex moulding and double stops.

The chancel arch has a tall 4-centred head, it runs down on the left to a square pier of alternating Dunstone and red sandstone, with chamfered edges which each have a carved ram's head at the top - these suggest a Norman date.

In the north wall of the nave is a small moulded granite arched doorway, originally leading to the rood screen which was removed in 1840.

The south chapel retains its very large original elaborately carved bosses which include ones of Christ's head, a dying stag, a lioness and a woman's head.

The octagonal granite font is probably C16 with simple shaft and chamfered base

The oak stalls in the chancel with carved animals and birds were installed in 1892.

Although it does not retain much of its early fittings this church preserves a largely medieval fabric with traces of an earlier building

it is notable for the survival of a number of early windows dating from the C13 to the C16.