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Christow Devon

Church of St. James, Christow Devon consists of a chancel, nave, north and south aisles, south porch and west tower

According to the church website the origins go back to the 13c, with the present building dating largely from the 15c, with substantial repairs in the 17c and 19c'.

The three stage granite ashlar west tower is a Gothic Survival addition of 1630 and has a ring of eight bells. - John III and Christopher IV Pennington of Stoke Climsland, Cornwall cast six bells in 1785. Afterwards John Taylor & Co of Loughborough added a new treble and second bell in 1973

 

The rood screen is without groining is coloured and gilt, and the lower panels are painted in blue and red ornamented with gilt stars. The scroll moulding on the main mullions and around the arcade is of unusual design. Part of the screen, once across the south aisle, is now fitted as a tower screen.

The plaster Royal arms are preserved on the wall of the north aisle with the inscription:— Tho: Moore, Chr: Hoore Wardes. 1682. flic.kr/p/UzhPLE

 

The seats in the aisles are old with carved ends; the drum pulpit is late 19c with carved panels incorporating 16c blind tracery. www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/b8tUM62WvC ]The 12c square Norman font thought to be carved out of hollowed stone capital www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/hT2X1BypU0

 

The east window in the chancel is in the memory of Edward, 4th Viscount Exmouth of Canonteign House nearby, who died October 31st 1899 during whose tenure as lord of the manor, the church was restored in 1862 to designs by the architect Edward Ashworth which included rebuilding the chancel, the porch, adding the vestry, reseating, and repairing and repainting the screen. His forbears earned their fame as Admirals in the Royal Navy at the time of Nelson and their monuments here include Admiral Edward Pellew, 1st Viscount Exmouth ahttps://www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/XA5q85k790 nd his son the 2nd Viscount, www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/MxE59XU975 both of whom died in 1833.

The window at the east end of the south aisle is in memory of members of the Woolcombe family.

 

Nathaniel Bussell, the parish clerk, is said to have been shot by the Roundheads on February 19th 1631, (a very early date for the Civil War !) and to have been buried in the porch where he fell, because he refused to deliver up the keys of the church for the building to be ransacked. www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/muFD1P310h

 

The registers date: baptisms, 1557; marriages, 1555; burials, 1557.

 

 

Picture with thanks - copyright Ian www.cornishchurches.com/Christow%20Church%20Devon%20-%20S...

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Uploaded on October 24, 2023