St Mary

rebuilt in mid C15

chancel refurbished in late C17, very extensive restoration of 1887-91 included rebuilding of north and south aisles, reroofing and reslating, scraping aisle piers and replacing windows.

Imposing 30m high west tower mostly C15 fabric.

West side of tower has C15 2-centred granite arch with moulded surround and restored hoodmoulds

moulded granite string course is C15

small C15 arch-headed volcanic window to ringing loft (another on north side and round-headed granite window on south side)

and late C19 circular clockface with brass Roman numerals below belfry window.

Small Bathstone trefoil-headed lancets in each side contain C19 stained, glass representations of St George and St Catherine.

Porch roof has black ridge tiles with crests cut through with small quatrefoils.

Left window has Perpendicular Beerstone tracery and hoodmould with carved face labels, probably reset original C15 work.

3-light window in east end of aisle also has C15 Perpendicular Beerstone tracery but not hoodmould.

South side includes small volcanic stone segmental-headed priests door at left end and late C17 round-headed window containing rectangular panes of leaded glass.

East gable end has larger late C17 round-headed window.

Of north-facing windows 3 have apparently C15 Perpendicular Beerstone tracery with C19 hoodmoulds.

Interior: porch has reused C15 unceiled wagon roof with moulded ribs and purlins and includes 2 bosses, both carved with IHS monograms

Late C19 encaustic tile floor.

Plastered vault of chancel may hide medieval roof.

Plastered arch to lower and slightly narrower chancel, which was refurbished in late C17 with new round-headed windows, plastered ceiling, moulded plaster cornice and the walls panelled with large field plaster bolection mouldings above oak fielded panel wainscotting.

East window contains C18 stained glass in Peckham style with geometric patterns and orange predominating.

Fine late C17 oak reredos with flanking fluted Ionic pilasters, moulded cornice and central oval panel painted with the legend 'This do in Remembrance of me'.

Restored late C15 oak rood screen is very fine and sumptuously decorated example similar to screen at Church of St Thomas of Canterbury, Lapford (q.v.).

Above the arches the ribbed coving is enriched with Renaissance motifs and above this the cornice covered by friezes of densely carved openwork foliage.

Nave and aisles have C19 tile floors and include some old worn gaveslabs, notably one of 1690 in north aisle in memory of Julia Wheeler with an heraldic achievement.

Aisles have late C19 ceramic dado and south aisle incorporates reset C15 Beerstone aumbry with cusped cinquefoil head.

Beerstone font of 1848.

C20 timber pulpit and lactern.

2 C15 recumbent figures in south aisle were originally in south aisle chapel with an ogee sepulchral arch below the window.

Chancel includes 2 good late C17 mural monuments.

On north side the William Tuckfield memorial , comprising a black marble rectangular plaque flanked by Beerstone pilasters enriched by bas relief garlands and outside strapwork

On south side the Edward Pridham memorial , comprising a black marble rectangular plaque with bolection-moulded frame flanked by Ionic columns which support a moulded entablature with broken pediment and central heraldic achievement in cartouche, the whole on moulded sill on scroll-shaped brackets with bifurcated swag between.

Another good mural monument in tower, memorial to John (surname illegible) of Southcott comprising a rectangular black marble plaque set in Beerstone

flanking panels enriched with bas relief garlands between moulded entablature surmounted by an heraldic achievement in cartouche with flaring horns, the whole on moulded sill on brackets carved as skulls with folded wings and with an empty cartouche between.

All these memorials have traces of ancient colour but the arms of Edward Pridham have been retouched.

Tower memorial is flanked by C19 benefaction boards.

C17 oak chest in north aisle with chip-carved arcaded front.

It also includes a very rare late C17 chancel.