St Michael

aisle, remodelling of north chancel chapel in 1669, restorations of the circa 1850s and circa 1870s.

An account of 1843 refers to a lancet window in the chancel and the C13 plan may have been a small nave and chancel church with tower and north aisle added in the Perpendicular style.

It may be early C16 although Hoskins suggests it is a remodelling of 1669 by Aaron Baker of Bowhay.

An inscription in the north chancel chapel states that "hanc ecclesia partem aedificanti Aaron Baker de Bowhay.. anno salutis nostrum md lxix." A straight joint in the external masonry suggests that there has been some rebuilding of the north chancel chapel, although the design of the rood screen indicates that the arcade piers, at least, are not post-Reformation.

To the east of the porch is a 2-light Decorated style circa 1870s window with a hoodmould and carved head label stops, similar 3-light window to the west of the porch.

The westernmost window on the north side is a 3-light circa 1870s Decorated window with a hoodmould and carved label stops

Unceiled wagon roofs with moulded ribs: there may be some C19 replacement but most of the bosses are medieval and make up an extremely fine set with bold foliage carving and numerous heads.

Additional ribs and bosses form a ceilure above the rood screen.

The medieval rood loft stair is intact including (unusually) the door to the stair which is a single plank with studs.

A good set of probably early C16 and late C19 Herbert Read copy bench ends and benches in the nave.

The C16 benches are unusual in being a set with a consistent design: 2 tiers of tracery with foliage variations in the border, 1 has a border of plaited design.

Fine octagonal Beerstone font, the bowl decorated with deeply-cut quatrefoils, the stem decorated with tracery, ogival C17 font cover with wooden inlay and a ball finial.

The octagonal Beerstone font is Perpendicular in style and it is surmounted by a 17th century cover made of wood.

© Maigheach-gheal

1903 5-sided timber drum pulpit on a wingelass stem by Herbert Read with nodding ogee arches, foliage carving and figures of missionary saints, flanking a figure of Christ.

An interesting collection of monuments including late C17 ledger stones used as nave paving.

Large wall monument signed W. Tylor, who also designed the monument to Lawrence in Westminster Abbey, to Major-General Stringer Lawrence, died 1775: a grey marble obelisk with a portrait medallion in white marble, white marble military trophies including a turban and an inscription panel below with an epitaph by Hannah More including "In vain this frail Memorial Friendship rears,/His Dearest Monuments an army's tears/".

In the chancel chapel a wall monument to Aaron Baker, the first English Governor in India, died 1683: Corinthian columns and an entablature with achievements above.

An inscription in the chapel states that it was built by Baker in 1669.

On the south wall a pair of early C19 wall monuments to the Pitman family of Dunchideock House (q.v.) - white marble tablets crowned with urns on grey obelisks.

1803 painted Royal Arms on south wall of nave.