St John The Baptist

C13 alterations

C14 porch

thorough alterations of the early C15 including tower

PLAN: one of Devon's larger medieval parish churches.

Of the C12 church some chancel masonry survives as does the west door, re-set in the C15 west tower.

Chancel includes C13 windows

evidence that arcades are C13 in origin, heightened in the C15.

EXTERIOR: chancel with setback buttresses has massive five-light transomed traceried east window with hoodmould and carved label stops, masonry C19 but part of arch appears to be medieval.

Two three-light Perpendicular style traceried north windows with a three-centred moulded doorway with ballflower ornament and probably C17 two-panel plank and stud door.

Four bay buttressed north aisle with embattled parapet with medieval beerstone north west pinnacle with crocketed finial.

Four-light Perpendicular style traceried windows, one with Y tracery, hoodmoulds and carved label stops.

Red sandstone triple hollow chamfered doorway in second bay from the west with probably C16 door of overlapping vertical panels, repaired at the bottom, with variety of latches and dog door.

Above the door a short four-light window with a hoodmould with carved label stops.

West face has re-sited C12 doorway with alternating red and white stones and detached shafts with scalloped capitals.

North and south faces have two-light traceried early C15 windows to second stage.

Embattled south porch with diagonal buttresses and C19 moulded red sandstone doorway and quadripartite rib vault springing from corbels decorated with carved feathers.

Central carved boss very decayed but appears to depict the Ascension.

Chamfered inner doorway with hoodmould and probably C16 door of overlapping planks with strap hinges.

The vestry has a coped parapet and, flanked by buttresses, a quirky moulded doorway with depressed shoulders, flat ball-flower carving and a statue niche over.

One-, two-, three- and five-light stone mullioned windows.Carved inscription records that the vestry was erected by Adam Mortimor Singer (qv Oldway Mansion) to the memory of his wife.

chancel a C19 boarded wagon with moulded ribs, carved bosses and C19 painted panels

flat, panelled aisle roofs with moulded ribs and carved bosses

Lady Chapel has a painted panelled ceiling and a very elaborate 1907 east window/reredos ensemble, the window with panelled reveals incorporating statue niches and a three bay reredos with figure groups carved in relief.

1906 rood screen in a traditional Perpendicular local style, doorway with carved figures on the Kenton/ N.Bovey model, by Herbert Read of Exeter

medieval doorways to rood loft stair turret.

Fine C15 stone wineglass-stem pulpit, similar to Harberton, with knobbly foliage carving and nodding ogee statue niches.

Partlyre-coloured, traces of medieval paint survive.

Red sandstone Norman font with a circular bowl with palmette ornament.

Spectacular late C15 chantry chapel, the best in Devon outside Exeter Cathedral, identified by Prince as being the chantry of the Kirkham family of Blagdon (qv Blagdon Manor).

A deep stone screen with two Tudor arches contains tomb chests between a central doorway, the whole crowned with masses of pinnacles and carved angels.

Figures damaged, but the minor figures decorating the chest and the iconographic scenes are of a high quality and retain some traces of medieval colour.

Inside the chapel a C17 tomb chest to Sir William and Lady Kirkham with two kneeling figures facing one another under flat arches.

Other monuments include a fine gisant in a cusped tomb recess in the south aisle and a foliated cross, re-sited under a moulded tomb recess with carved spandrels in the north aisle.

Various wall tablets, including a slate monument with white marble pediment to Thomas Hunt of Yalberton and tablets to the Belfield family of Primley House (qv).

Good collection of C19 and early C20 stained glass including west window of north aisle, signed Heaton, Butler and Bayne and other windows by Hardman and Clayton and Bell.