Kilkhampton
Cornwall
C12 inner south door, late C15/early C nave, aisles, roofs, west tower, vestry.
1567 porch built for John Grenville, east end rebuilt 1860 by Sir G G Scott.
West door arch moulded and recessed beneath square-headed architrave with hoodmould and label stops, quatrefoils in roundels carved in spandrels.
Small, segmental arched south door into the Grenville chapel has hoodmould with label stops and stone carved with the Grenville arms.
Circa C17 4-plank vestry door retains strap hinges terminating in fleur de lys finials, Suffolk latch with iron loop drop and cruciform backplate, key escutcheon.
North door has pointed, moulded arch and C12 beakhead incorporated into stone relieving arch above.
South porch has square headed architrave and hoodmould with carved label stops.
Inner door has 4 orders of carving carried on colonettes with waterleaf feet.
The soffit of each order is also carved.
third order is similar but has lozenges carved on corner between soffit and order
Unceiled waggon roofs throughout, with carved ribs and bosses, probably partly renewed.
Chancel waggon slightly lower with angels carved at wall plate level.
22 benches, each with 1 carved end in south aisle, 19 similar in north aisle.
16 benches each with 2 carved ends in south nave, 15 similar in north nave.
Carvings include symbols of the Passion, armorial bearings and Renaissance arabesques, many with unconventional borders (q.v.Launcells).
Those benches facing the chancel have carved frontals with some fine profile heads.
Continuous frieze runs below inscription, armorial panels carved below frieze, blind panels on stem.
North and south doors circa C16, west door similar, refronted on exterior.
Organ rebuilt 1958 retains C19 pipes and some good C19 carving.
Numerous wall monuments attributed to Michael Chuke of Kilkhampton (q.v. Churchyard Memorial), said to have been a pupil of Grinling Gibbons.
All but 2 recently repainted, those retaining earlier colouring are monument above vestry door to the Rev. John Coryndon, d. 1711: Corinthian columns support a moulded cornice and segmental pediment, drapery knotted round columns, carved decoration of swags, skull corbels, kneeling angels.
On south wall of Grenville Chapel, monument to Sir Bevill Grenville, erected 1711 has Corinthian columns supporting a cornice and is flanked by panels carved with military trophies.
The large Royal Arms of George II on the north wall, and the fine Grenville Arms above the rood screen are also attributed to Chuke.
Wall monument in Grenville chapel to Algernon Cartaret Thynne, died 1917 signed W Goscombe John, R.A.Marble tablet with bronze reliefs of Palestine and a bronze statue of horse and rider above.
Many examples of good C19 glass, mostly by Clayton and Bell, including a fine east window and some important glass by the firm made in 1860.
James Harvey, visiting Kilkhampton in the early C18 was inspired by the "dumb monitors" as he described the memorials, to write his extraordinary "Meditations Among the Tombs".