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St Mary

St Mary

Axminster

Devon

Large parish church of Norman origin, though of the Norman period only a reset doorway survives.

Architectural Features

The piers of the crossing and the west parts of the chancel are circa early C13.

Nave has C19 square clerestory windows and five-light perpendicular early C15 west window above the west doorway.

Chancel south aisle circa 1480 with reset Norman doorway with two orders of nook shafts and zigzag in the arch.

North aisle and porch of 1525-30, the aisle with quatrefoil parapet, gargoyles and three-light windows with reticulated tracery.

Large crossing tower rebuilt in C13 and restored in 1896.

Interior: four-bay north and south arcades of early C15 with foliated capitals, the capitals of north arcade replace in 1870 with carved angels.

Early C14 stepped group of sedilia and piscina in chancel.

Two C13 stone effigies in niches in north and south walls of chancel.

Other monuments of circa 1800 by Gibbs of Axminster and Crane of London.

Late C15 timber screen to chancel north chapel.

Rebuilt reading desk and octagonal pulpit of 1633.

Jacobean carved panels reworked into chair stall.

Brass candelabra of 1750.