St Andrew

chancel possibly C14 consecrated in 1318.

North doorway under divided buttress has re-used Norman tympanum in red sandstone on which carving of a Maltese cross and a bird, probably a swan, is discernable but has been damage when the stone was hacked off to fit the present doorway.

Chancel has early C20 restored 5-light Perpendicular east window with carved headstops.

To its left is C15 priest's door in red sandstone with 4-centred arch, chamfered with pyramid stops and arched hoodmould above.

Probably original carved headstops to hoodmould.

South doorway is Early English, transitional from Norman - a slightly pointed chamfered arch of red sandstone and Beer stone blocks with very heavy roll and hollow moulding to semi-circular arched architrave which has depressed keystone.

Probably C16 very heavy oak studded door with decorative strap hinges.

Good Interior: 6-bay arcade to aisles of octagonal red sandstone piers with shallow Beer stone capitals which are moulded at the top and carved with fleurons and human faces, some capitals have plain unchiselled blocks, as if unfinished.

C15 rood screen extends across nave and both aisles, heavily restored in 1898 with the coving completely replaced and the frieze and travery (Pevsner Type A) also partially renewed.

The panelling is largely original and painted with the figures of the 24 Elders, the 12 apostles and the 12 prophets.

Fine C15 richly carved and painted pulpit on tapering stem has 5 panels which originally contained statues and have crocketed canopies.

Carved decoration of vine foliage and fruit.

C18 steps added to pulpit have turned newels, turned and moulded balusters, curtail step and carved brackets.

C15 octagonal Beer stone font has alternate quatrefoils and shields in panels and 2-light trefoil- headed niches on pillar, 3 of which contain carved figures.

SX8366 : Ipplepen, St. Andrew's Church: c15th octagonal Beer stone font

© Michael Garlick

The 3 chancel windows date from 1906 and are memorial gifts, the work of C E Kemp.

The glass in the east window of the south chapel is by Drake of Exeter.

There are several C17 ledger-stones.

In the nave is a red sandstone one of 1650 and 1692 to William and Elizabeth Crosson, the latter of whom was daughter of John Crossing Gent of Dornafield (q.v.).

At the front of the nave is a red sandstone memorial of 1653 to Henry Full of Ambrooke (q.v.) with a rhyming epitaph at the centre.

At the rear of the nave is one of 1652 to Margaret Full of Ambrooke with a worn epitaph at the centre.

On the wall of the south aisle is a large ornately carved plaster memorial to several members of the Neyle family of Ambrook erected by William Neyle in 1727, with the family coat of arms.

This is a well-preseved C15 church with some interesting earlier fragments and good quality interior fittings.