Description

SAMPFORD COURTENAY HONEYCHURCH SS 60 SW 5/169 Church of St Mary 22.2.67 GV I Church, originally served the parish of Honeychurch, now part of Sampford Courtenay parish. C12 fabric with C15 additions. Stone rubble walls, roughly coursed to tower - of which the top stage is roughcast. Gabled slate roof. Plan: nave and chancel with west tower and south porch. The C12 church comprised the present small nave and chancel. In the C15 they were re-roofed, the west tower was added and in the late C15 or early C16 the seating inserted and the south porch built. Exterior: 2 stage crenellated west tower with set-back buttresses extending almost upto the top. Granite west doorway with 4-centred arched head and triple hollow moulding. West window of debased Perpendicular style - 3 lights with segmental heads. One and 2-light belfry openings with pointed heads. Shallow rectangular stair projection on north side of tower. North side of nave has late C15 3-light granite mullion window which has 4-centred heads and square hoodmould. C19 buttress between nave and chancel. C20 granite east window of 3-lights. On south side chancel has 4-centred arched granite priest's door. Above it is possibly original lancet window with 4-centred head. Nave has C15 3-light granite and limestone mullion window with cinquefoil heads and square hoodmoulds. Similar 2-light window of red sandstone to west of porch. 1 storey gabled south porch with replaced segmental headed wooden lintel to plain doorway which has C19 wrought iron gate with fleur de lys finial and reeded iron post to either side. Interior: pointed 4-centred granite south doorway with double hollow chamfer and early studded plank door. Chancel arch is of granite, moulded with 4-centred head and moulded imposts. Tower arch has chamfered stone jambs and recessed chamfered 4- centred arch. Windows have chamfered rear arches. On north wall of nave is a small recess with rounded head and chamfered granite surround. Small piscina on south wall of nave. To either side of south doorway is a C20 carved granite corbel in the form of a human mask. The tub front is also C12 and has cable and chevron carving. It has an early C17 cupola shaped font cover. The medieval benches survive on the north side of the aisle and to the west of the doorway - they are of very simple and crude construction although the 3 nearest the chancel have carved ends with trefoil-headed panels. To the east of the doorway are C18 box pews. Good circa early Cl7 panelled wooden pulpit with decorative floral carving to the top panels and a geometric design carved on the underside of the integral lecturn. Simple late C17 or early C18 altar rails with turned balusters and a gate with inverted segmental top. C15 wagon roof whose ribs and wall-plates have 4-petal flower carving, also carved Dosses. Porch roof totally renewed. The internal walls retain their old plaster and on the north wall are extensive remains of mural painting depicting the coat of arms of Elizabeth I with now illegible inscription below in Gothic script. One late C18 marble wall memorial to members of the Dunning family. This is a remarkable survival of a small medieval church which has virtually escaped C19 and C20 restoration and whose interior in particular has almost been untouched since the C17 retaining a unique charm. Source: Church Guide - W. G. Hoskins

Listing NGR: SS6291202815

External Links

• Wikidata Q17527567

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Recommended Books

• 
  Suffolk: East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Listed Buildings: The Law and Practice of Historic Buildings, Ancient Monuments and Conservation Areas
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  The Listed Buildings and Other Principal Structures at the Royal Gunpowder Mills Waltham Abbey
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  Setting up a Listed Building Heritage Partnership Agreement: Historic England Advice Note 5
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  A Buying and Owning a Listed Building: A Brief Guide
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  Northumberland (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)