← Database

All Saints

Kenton

Devon

1360-70 on the basis of the will of William Slighe, died 1379, in which he expresses a wish to be buried in theaisle he had recently built, "in elaquam ego ibidem de novo construxi", although it has been argued that this refers only to refurbishing and the date of the building may be later (Slader).

Architectural Features

6-light east window with C19 tracery, king mullion and carved label stops

The south side of the church, facing the road, is noticeably the show front with carved detail not used on the north side.

a carved cornice moulding

A projecting 5- sided embattled stair turret divides the eastern bays, the turret with a carved cornice and grotesques.

The battlementing has statue niches and the porch is decorated with gargoyles.

The off-centre square-headed outer doorway is richly carved with carved spandrels and large projecting medieval carved label stops.

Above the doorway an unusual large carved canopy niche is flanked by 1-light cusped windows with a common hoodmould and label stops

Corner pinnacles with canopied niches containing presumably C15 sculptured figures - a rare survival.

Interior: The porch, originally vaulted, has a flat roof, a richly -carved inner doorway with large projecting carved label stops and a remodelled canopied statue niche above.

the piers with corner shafts, boldly carved foliage capitals and moulded arches.

The nave is dominated by the impressive ll-bay rood screen, the heraldry suggesting a date during Peter Courtenay's Bishopric, 1478-1486 (Bond and Camm), the coving and rood loft parapet replaced by Herbert Read under the direction of Bligh Bond in the late C19 and early C20, re-instating the medieval proportions of the screen and quite unlike the usual survivals.

Medieval wainscot paintings of saints

some ancient colour on the carving and apostles carved in niches on the centre doorframe (q.v. North Bovey)

The chancel has probably C19 sedilia under a simple arch, a 2-tier probably medieval aumbry and a trefoil-headed hogioscope into the north chancel chapel.

Massive carved timber tryptich reredos erected in 1843, carved " under the direction of Mr Kempe" (TEDAS), some carving by Sebastian Zwinke of Oberammergau.

North parclose door made up of carved late C15/early C16 bench ends.

The nave has an interesting C15 timber drum pulpit on a wineglass stem, richly carved and largely reconstructed by Herbert Read to the designs of Bligh Bond after Baring- Gould found it in pieces.

Octagonal carved font of 1844

The north chancel chapel was formerly the family pew of Oxton Manor House and retains some good, probably late C17 dado panelling with strapwork and the remains of a piscina.

Monuments Numerous ledger stones used as floor slabs.

Large early C17 wall monument to Dulcabella Hodges, died 1628, in the north chancel chapel with a seated figure, her head resting on one hand with a weeper.

Inscription tablet with Corinthian columns and a cornice to Sir Nicholas Martyn, died 1653 on south wall of the chapel which also has a 3-bay early C19 monument on the east wall to members of the Swete family and a white marble wall tablet with an urn to John Swete, died 1831, signed J. Kendall, Exon.

Stained Glass East window said by Pevsner to be Clayton and Bell

north and south chancel windows by Drake of Exeter with memorial date of 1891.

South aisle window quarry glass and head tracery glass in north aisle by Beer , grisaille glass in east window by north chancel chapel probably also by Beer.

some fragments of medieval glass in the north aisle windows.