Description

PAYHEMBURY
ST 00 SE
3/100 Church of St Mary
22.2.55
GV I

Parish church. C15 and early C16 thoroughly refurbished in the 1889. Local stone
rubble with Beerstone and volcanic ashlar dressings and detail (Hamstone used in C19
in chancel); tile roof.
Plan: nave with lower chancel, north aisle is nearly full length and C19 vestry in
the angle of aisle and chancel. West tower and south porch.
Exterior: unbuttressed west tower is 2 stages with an embattled parapet and carved
gargoyles. Semi-hexagonal stair turret on north side rises higher than the tower.
Belfry has square-headed windows, 2 lights with cinquefoil heads and small single
light version to the ringing loft on the south side (below C19 clockface). West
side has 2-centred arch doorway with moulded surround including fourleaf motifs.
Most of the windows round the rest of the church are replacement windows with
Perpendicular tracery. However those 2 on the south side of the chancel are
Hamstone with a distinctive hybrid of Perpendicular styles. Gabled south porch
projects from middle of the nave. It has a 2-centred outer arch with moulded
surround enriched with four-leaf motifs and contains oak gates including grilles of
turned rails; it is probably late C17. The wagon roof of the porch maybe C15 but
restored. The south doorway is Tudor arch with carved foliage surround and above it
a probably C19 niche containing a carved representation of the Virgin Mary. On
south side of chancel a curious priests door, square headed with an arch-headed
hoodmould. On the north side of the aisle the break between aisle and chapel is
marked by a projecting rood stair turret. There is a small doorway alongside into
the chapel.
Good interior: although heavily refurbished in 1887. The boarded wagon roofs of
the nave, chancel and aisle date from then; moulded ribs and purlins with carved and
gilded bosses. The chancel roof and ceilure in the neighbouring section of the nave
is more ornate with crossbraces and crestwork around the panels and a carved
openwork wall plate interrupted by carved angels playing instruments. This section
is painted and gilded. The C19 chancel arch is a timber blind arcade of quatrefoils
and mouchettes. Ringing loft of tower has C16 intersecting beam floor. Tall tower
arch has double-chamfered arch ring. 5-bay arcade including a wider arch
overlapping the chancel; moulded piers (Pevsner's type B) carved foliate caps and
carved bosses have been set in the springing between the arches. The restored stoup
by the south doorway has its original basin. The rood stair is intact but the
doorways are rebuilt. C19 or C20 image niche alongside the rood stair doorway.
Plastered walls. Floor is flagged in nave and aisle but has C19 tiles in chancel
which are more ornate in the sanctuary where the symbols of the Evangelists are
featured.
Good rood screen although somewhat restored. It is 10 bays including 2 doorways;
the wainscotting has applied blind tracery;, the windows have slender Perpendicular
tracery (Pevsner's type B), the coved canopy has Gothic ornamentation and the frieze
has 3 bands of delicately carved openwork foliage with crest and vallance. The
parclose is a simpler late C19 copy.
Most of the furniture and fittings is late C19 but some is C18. The east window is
flanked by late C19 painted commandments with Gothic style Beerstone frames. The
timber reredos and altar table are contemporary but the oak altar rail on turned
balusters is C18. Late C19 oak stalls are Gothic in style with poppyhead finials,
and carved blind tracery to the bench ends and frontals. There is a reading desk
here in the chancel with a canopy carved in Gothic style. It is very delicate and
high quality. The lectern and font cover are in the same style, the letter dated
1897. All are the work of Fellowes Prynne of Exeter. Pulpit is C18; an octagonal
drum pulpit with fielded panel sides and sounding board. Some of the benches are
heavily restored C15 but most are late C19 copies; all have carved tracery on the
bench ends.
The Beenstone font has an octagonal bowl with carved quatrefoils in the side and
panelled stem; it was retooled or new made in the C19. The font cover is complete
with 1897 lifting chain, pulley and counterweights. Good C17 chest in tower.
Memorials: very good monument on north side of sanctuary in memory of Dorothy
Gosill (d. 1745) and her son Timothy (d. 1746) who was vicar of the parish. It is a
white and black marble large sarcophagus on which are 2 carved cherubs holding
medallions containing profiles of the deceased against a background of drapery.
Other C19 memorials of only local interest.
In the tower is a painted charity board with a segmental arch head and frame of
fluted pilasters with moulded entablature. It is C18 and probably contemporary with
the Royal Arms of George II over the south door. Some C19 stained glass and tracery
of north aisle contains C15 and C16 glass including some complete figures.
Source: Devon C19 Church Project.

Listing NGR: ST0886401794

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17524669

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

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