St Mary

Development: The first rector was in 1226.

In 1336 Bishop Grandisson dedicated the high altar which suggest the chancel had been rebuilt but the chancel may well have C13 fabric judging by the south window. therefore in the early C14 there must have been considerable rebuilding of the early C13 church.

The early C13 church would have comprised a nave and chancel and possibly a west tower as well. the present west tower may be of C13 origin or early C14 with an integral spire, for the broach spire is certainly C14 but owing to the rendered internal masonry it is difficult to see whether it is coeval with the tower itself.

There is also a problem in dating the aisles because although they are thought to be C15 the arcades with their octagonal piers and 2-centred arches seem to be earlier and perhaps part of the early C14 rebuilding - see also the later perhaps late C15 carving on some of the capitals and the buttresses on the north and south sides of the aisles.

Furthermore the capitals of the piers between the nave and chancel have been cut away possibly in the C15 to accommodate the rood loft.

A church with 2 aisles would have been unusually large for this part of Devon in the C14 which raises considerable doubt about a date earlier than the C15 for the aisles. the date of the south porch is also uncertain for although it looks early it must have been built after the aisles.

If the aisles were not c15 additions they seem to have been reroofed together with the nave

chancel in the C16.

the gable above has been rebuilt. there is a C19 lancet in the large C13 blocked window on the south side with a priests doorway to the left (west) with a C19 volcanic stone 4-centred arch head and similarly arched C19 flush panel door.

it has a C15 perpendicular 4-centred arch west window (the mullions renewed) with a hoodmould and a simple chamfered granite 2-centred arch cuvet doorway with corner stops land C19 flush panel double doors

The circa early C14 broach spire is clad in concrete accentuating the lunettes

one respond capital and two pier capitals in the south arcade have what looks like C15 foliage carving and another pier prepared for carving.

The C13 south window of the chancel also has a chamfered rear arch and nook shafts with moulded capitals bases and shaft rings

as they are ceiled the roof structure can not be seen but the moulded ribs and some of the wall-plates in both the aisles appear to be C16

The carved rood screen is the work of Herbert Read, it has A- type (Pevsner) tracery with a canopy over the centre

the polygonal wooden pulpit is probably contemporary.

The carved wooden reredos altar rail and eagle lectern are C20.

There is a restored late C17 altar table in the chapel at the east end of the south aisle with barley-sugar legs moulded stretcher land a drawer

The choir has C19 patterned tiles.

a local marble ledger stone in the north aisle to Richard Hele of Sterte died 1614 and other members of the Hele family

Monuments: The best is a wall monument to Ann Taylor of Maridge died 1763 aged 16

it is a fashionable classical design in carved white and coloured marbles with a broken pediment above containing an urn and a coat of arms below.

Opposite on the north wall of the chancel a monument to W. Hare of Courtisknowle (Curtisknowle) died 1820.

A small brass on the east wall of the north aisle to Honor and Willikelme Vowell, dated 1595.

At the west end of the nave an oval wall monument with an urn to Matilda, wife of Reverend Henry hare of Courtisknowle, died 1823

and a wall monument to Robert Dawson, died 1876, with a laurel wreath tablet superimposed over crossed standards.

Stained Glass: all the glass is clear except for the circa mid C19 glass in the east window south chancel window and the west window of the south aisle.

The west window in the tower seems to have some medieval glass in the tracery

the rest of the glass is mid C19 in this window.