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St Thomas of Canterbury

St Thomas Of Canterbury

Northlew

Devon

Norman tower with the main fabric of the Church dating from the C15 to early C16.

Architectural Features

The earliest part of the church is the C12 tower, thee rest of the church was rebuilt in the C15 and north and south aisles added.

The family evidently contributed significantly to the refurbishing of the church since the arms of William Kelly and the date 1537 are on one of the bench ends.

The medieval rood screen was removed in 1810 then later restored by Herbert Read of Exeter and re-erected in 1923 - 29 in sections.

Exterior: 3 stage unbuttressed west tower the higher stage of which was probably rebuilt in the C15 with obelisk pinnacles.

C12 west doorway with 1 order of colonettes and pointed arch with double head.

Also-on this side are 3 early C16 square- headed 3-light mullion windows with 4-centred heads.

Interior: porch retains its wagon roof with high relief carving to ribs and carved bosses, some of which are restored, as are the wall-plates.

South doorway has basket arched head, hollow roll and hollow moulding with raised pyramid stops and the arms of the Kelly and Trecarrel families carved in the spandrels.

Possibly C12 low pointed tower arch with chamfered imposts.

North aisle has cup capitals, the top of the eastern most one is carved with the Kelly arms and the intials W. K. Above the square-headed window openings to the north aisle are wooden lintels with quite ornate foliage and floral carving.

Good wagon roofs to aisles, especially ornate to north aisle which has carved ribs and bosses - those over the chapel have large spreading leaves or petals.

Carved angels at the front of each rib on the wall-plate.

South aisle has moulded ribs and simpler bosses, also with carved angels.

Good C16 benches to nave and south aisle, the ends of which are all of various pre-Renaissance designs, one dated 1537 and another witn the arms of William Kelly.

Restored medieval screen of which only really the old panellng survives - the cornice and rood loft completely renewed.

Square Norman tub front with saltire and star decoration and arcading to sides

This is a more than usually complete medieval church with many good features both internal and external and some interesting remains of the Norman fabric.