Cullompton Devon
Church of St Andrew, Cullompton Devon
The earliest evidence of occupation here is from the Roman period: there was a fort on the hill above the town and occupation in the current town centre. "Columtune" was mentioned in Alfred the Great's will, which left it to his youngest son Æthelweard
The original (wooden) church is thought to have been dedicated to St Columba who preached to West Saxons in 549 AD. After 1066 it and its land was given to Battle Abbey by William the Conqueror and at the time of the 1086 Domesday Survey this manor was part of the royal manor of Silverton and not recorded separately. Before the conquest it was held by King Edward. In 1291 this manor was given to Buckland Abbey by Isabella Countess of Devon The manor contained 5 sub-manors called Upton, Weaver, Ash, Colebrook and Henland (now in the parish of Kentisbeare) and later passed to St Nicholas Priory in Exeter.
The church now consists of a chancel, nave, north and two inner & outer south aisles, a south-west porch, and a magnificent four stage tower built of local red sandstone, 100 feet high topped with 20 feet pinnacles 20 regarded as one of the finest in Devon On its west front are carved the arms of England, those of John Vesey, then Bishop of Exeter [elected 1519], a statue of King Edward VI [r. 1547-1553] or Edward the Martyr, a crucifix and an effigy of St. George; www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/03BJC1c089 It has a Polygonal stair turett to the north face.
The list of vicars dates from 1181 www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/Kp1Y5ycS98 and the registers from 1601.
The nave and north and south aisles were possibly built in the first half of the 15c. The outer south Lane aisle was begun in 1526 with building still in progress in 1552; The west tower was begun 1539 with building still in progress in 1545
There is a richly coloured rood screen of 13 bays in red, white, green & gold, retaining its cornices and groining. The panels originally contained paintings of saints, but these have been painted over. www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/0J8E91w3X5 The rood beam still remains over the screen, but from its position must have served as a support to the top of the cross. The Calvary was removed from the loft either during the Protectorate [1653-1659], or by Government order of 1547; . This base of the Calvary / Golgotha also survives and is made of oak, carved to represent rocks with skulls, thigh-bones, and shoulder blades lying upon them; www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/5977A6Bvq8 there is no other instance in Devonshire of even so much as this remaining of the actual rood.
The Lane aisle, was built as a chantry chapel by a wealthy wood merchant John Lane, c1526 before he died in February 1528, and he is buried with his wife Thomasine near the altar, their surviving brass indents are now partly covered by pews. . www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/FS84151e8c The interior of the aisle is under a wonderful roof of fan tracery, finer than anything of its kind in a Devonshire church, www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/vg807oQ34o The external stone of the aisle is ornamented with devices representing his merchants mark, www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/219KZ58rVN four of his trading ships www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/f36WG00GU0 & his initials, Around it is an inscription stating that the aisle was erected in honour of God and the Blessed Virgin, and asking for prayers for the souls of John the founder, his wife and children... www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/8B08X92J7f Pedestals for lost statues are on the second stage under a third stage made up of now destroyed pinnacles.
There is a stone in the porch having an incised floriated cross with an inscription to John King, died October 9th 1458, and Joan his wife.
At the end of the nave is a Jacobean gallery with four oak pillars about 9 feet (3 m) tall. which dates from 1637 www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/ztdoP857ZP
When the church was restored in 1849 by Edward Ashworth , a number of frescos of early 15c date were discovered in the north wall of the north aisle, on the north wall over the rood loft, and on the arcades, but sadly although these were recorded at the time, they are no longer visible.
John P Reeves CCL www.geograph.org.uk/photo/7100244
Cullompton Devon
Church of St Andrew, Cullompton Devon
The earliest evidence of occupation here is from the Roman period: there was a fort on the hill above the town and occupation in the current town centre. "Columtune" was mentioned in Alfred the Great's will, which left it to his youngest son Æthelweard
The original (wooden) church is thought to have been dedicated to St Columba who preached to West Saxons in 549 AD. After 1066 it and its land was given to Battle Abbey by William the Conqueror and at the time of the 1086 Domesday Survey this manor was part of the royal manor of Silverton and not recorded separately. Before the conquest it was held by King Edward. In 1291 this manor was given to Buckland Abbey by Isabella Countess of Devon The manor contained 5 sub-manors called Upton, Weaver, Ash, Colebrook and Henland (now in the parish of Kentisbeare) and later passed to St Nicholas Priory in Exeter.
The church now consists of a chancel, nave, north and two inner & outer south aisles, a south-west porch, and a magnificent four stage tower built of local red sandstone, 100 feet high topped with 20 feet pinnacles 20 regarded as one of the finest in Devon On its west front are carved the arms of England, those of John Vesey, then Bishop of Exeter [elected 1519], a statue of King Edward VI [r. 1547-1553] or Edward the Martyr, a crucifix and an effigy of St. George; www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/03BJC1c089 It has a Polygonal stair turett to the north face.
The list of vicars dates from 1181 www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/Kp1Y5ycS98 and the registers from 1601.
The nave and north and south aisles were possibly built in the first half of the 15c. The outer south Lane aisle was begun in 1526 with building still in progress in 1552; The west tower was begun 1539 with building still in progress in 1545
There is a richly coloured rood screen of 13 bays in red, white, green & gold, retaining its cornices and groining. The panels originally contained paintings of saints, but these have been painted over. www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/0J8E91w3X5 The rood beam still remains over the screen, but from its position must have served as a support to the top of the cross. The Calvary was removed from the loft either during the Protectorate [1653-1659], or by Government order of 1547; . This base of the Calvary / Golgotha also survives and is made of oak, carved to represent rocks with skulls, thigh-bones, and shoulder blades lying upon them; www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/5977A6Bvq8 there is no other instance in Devonshire of even so much as this remaining of the actual rood.
The Lane aisle, was built as a chantry chapel by a wealthy wood merchant John Lane, c1526 before he died in February 1528, and he is buried with his wife Thomasine near the altar, their surviving brass indents are now partly covered by pews. . www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/FS84151e8c The interior of the aisle is under a wonderful roof of fan tracery, finer than anything of its kind in a Devonshire church, www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/vg807oQ34o The external stone of the aisle is ornamented with devices representing his merchants mark, www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/219KZ58rVN four of his trading ships www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/f36WG00GU0 & his initials, Around it is an inscription stating that the aisle was erected in honour of God and the Blessed Virgin, and asking for prayers for the souls of John the founder, his wife and children... www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/8B08X92J7f Pedestals for lost statues are on the second stage under a third stage made up of now destroyed pinnacles.
There is a stone in the porch having an incised floriated cross with an inscription to John King, died October 9th 1458, and Joan his wife.
At the end of the nave is a Jacobean gallery with four oak pillars about 9 feet (3 m) tall. which dates from 1637 www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/ztdoP857ZP
When the church was restored in 1849 by Edward Ashworth , a number of frescos of early 15c date were discovered in the north wall of the north aisle, on the north wall over the rood loft, and on the arcades, but sadly although these were recorded at the time, they are no longer visible.
John P Reeves CCL www.geograph.org.uk/photo/7100244