Listing Text

THELBRIDGE CHURCHYARD LANE

SS 71 SE

2/259

- Church of St David

26.8.65

- II*

Parish Church. Medieval origins, completely rebuilt by Packham and Croote 1872-5.

Chancel corner stone dated 1872 and tower buttress foundation stone inscribed Samuel

Rosegood, Rector; George Packham, Architect; and James Parish, Builder. Snecked,

rock-faced volcanic stone with veined voncanic ashlar detail to nave and chancel and

Bathstone detail to tower; slate roof. Nave with lower chancel, west tower, vestry

on north side of chancel, south porch. Gothic-style, a mixture of early Decorated,

Perpendicular and Tudor. West tower in 2 stages with low offset angle and embattled

parapet with Bathstone corner finials raised on volcanic pinnacles. 2 bold drip

courses, the upper course with large carved gargoyle heads on each corner. Large

arch-headed 2-light simple Decorated-style belfry windows on each side. North side

of tower has semi-octagonal stair turret with shoulder-headed external door which

contains original C19 door with ornate strap hinges. West side has volcanic ashlar

doorway and 2-centred arch with moulded surround and containing double doors with

ornate strap hinges. Above door is an arch-headed 2-light window similar to the

belfry windows. South side of tower has 2 trefoil-headed lancets to ground floor and

a round window with cusped tracery to ringing floor. South side of nave has 2

volcanic ashlar square-headed 3-light windows with trefoil heads, sunken spandrels

and hoodmoulds. Gable-ended south porch between windows has volcanic double-

chamfered 2 centred outer arch, shaped kneelers and plain coping surmounted by a

cross of Iona. Chancel is lower and narrower than nave, and ends of both nave and

chancel have shaped kneelers and coping surmounted by a plain Latin cross; some of

chancel coping replaced with C20 concrete. South side of chancel has 3 square-headed

single light windows, all with trefoil heads, sunken spandrels and hoodmoulds.

Chancel is lower and narrower than nave, and ends of both nave and chancel have

shaped kneelers and coping surmounted by a plain Latin cross; some of chancel coping

replaced with C20 concrete. South side of chancel has 3 square-headed single light

windows, all with trefoil heads, sunken spandrels and hoodmoulds. East end of

chancel has arch-headed 3-light Perpendicular-style window in which some of the

tracery may be reused C15 work. Gable-ended vestry at right angles on north side of

chancel and includes a 2-light square-headed window. North side of nave has two 3-

light windows in same style as those on south front.

Interior: Porch has ceiled and vaulted roof. South door is a 2-centred arch with

chamfered surround and contains a studded plank door with applied panelled

coverstrips, plain strap hinges with fleur-de-lys finials and an oak lock-case;

possibly heavily-restored original. Nave has plain ceiled vault and chancel has 3-

bay Gothick false hammer beam roof with arch-braced trusses and raking queen struts.

Plain chancel and tower arches. Timber gothic-style panelled screen across tower

arch includes range of windows with gothic-style glazing bars. Timber gothic-style

reredos has painted panels painted with sacred monograms and symbols of the Holy

Trinity and is flanked by boards containing painted texts on painted ribbons with

grapes or a wheat-sheath. Oak altar rail on wrought-iron supports featuring unusual

floral decoration in brackets. C19 organ on south side of chancel with small plaque

recording 'rebuilt by Geo.Oswald and Co. of Taunton'. Victorian stained glass in

chancel. Accounts describe gothic-style pulpit and pews as 'modern' in 1848 and

Norman-style Beerstone font is pre-1848. No monuments.

Sources: Devon C19 Church Project.

Listing NGR: SS7875412160