Drewsteignton Church of the Holy Trinity Basics
Listed building grade 1
Regularly open
Address
Church of the Holy Trinity
Drewsteignton
Exeter
EX6 6QN
Geographical coordinates
50°42’12.8″N 3°47’27.0″W (enter these in your smartphone navigator)
Devonchurchland says…
One of the best positioned village churches in Devon, the beautiful tower backdropping the east side of the village square.
The that tower really is a beauty, granite blocked from the 15th century, the elegant west window probably from an earlier church.
The 2-storey porch is another humdinger, its powerful brutalism softened by the organic granite.
Inside is an enchanting gentleness, light from the tall, clear windows flowing through the medieval shapes and shadows, softening and highlighting as it goes.
The bench ends are a delight, 20th century, full of blossoms and wildlife with a careful design from the 1930s. Well worth spending a time and more getting to know them closely.
A good Norman font with the bowl replaced due to the roof falling on the original is another fine piece.
The south chapel is yet another beaut, a rough granite altar with goodly stained glass above.
The very rare Elizabeth I coat of arms above the south door is most wonderful; its historic value is inestimable but more than that is its quality.
The dragon is a wonder, the lion a right character, the whole very good indeed.
A lovely church set in a very pretty village. What more needs to be said?
Outline
PLAN
- Nave
- North and south aisles
- Neither of them full length
- West Tower
- South Porch
- Chancel
AGE
- C15 and early C16
- C15 tower
- C15 nave
- Contemporary 2-storey south porch
- North aisle maybe early C15
- South aisle late C15 – early C16
- Chancel rebuilt with new vestry in 1863
BUILT FROM
- Coursed blocks of granite ashlar throughout
- Different styles to different periods
- Early detail of granite and Beerstone ashlar
- C19 Bathstone detail
- Slate roof.
Exterior
WEST TOWER
- Tall
- 3 stages
- Diagonal buttresses
- Embattled parapet with corner pinnacles
- Internal stair turret in south-west corner
- Belfry windows are twin lancets
- West side has a 2-centred arch doorway
- Double-chamfered surround
- Directly above is a 3-light window
- Granite Y-tracery
- Above that a C19 painted clockface
PORCH
- Set back buttresses
- Continuous embattled parapet
- Projecting stair turret in angle with nave left side
- Outer arch is round-headed
- Moulded surround
- Contains C19 doors
- Above twin round-headed lancets
- Sink spandrels
SOUTH AISLE
- Set back buttresses
- Continuous embattled parapet
- Porch set left of centre interrupts the 5-bay front
- 4 windows are all 3 lights
- Perpendicular granite tracery
- Plain hoodmoulds
- Another in the east end
CHANCEL
- C19
- Gothic in style
- Including a 3-light window in east end
- Perpendicular tracery
NORTH AISLE
- Original coping to gables
- Set back buttresses
- 5-window front of 3-light windows
- Perpendicular tracery
- Hoodmoulds with carved head label stops
- Another in east end
- West end is blind
Interior
PORCH
- Flagged floor
- Benches each side
- South door round-headed
- Double-chamfered surround
- Contains a C19 door
NAVE
- Tall, plain tower arch
- Springing from imposts
- Moulded granite ashlar chancel arch
- Probably C19
- Each side of nave are granite 5-bay arcades
- Both have moulded piers
- Plain capitals
- Those to the south aisle are moulded Pevsner’s Type A
- Those to the north aisle are Pevsner’s Type B
- Tiny round-headed doorway in south aisle to porch stair
- North side of vestry has C15 2-centred arch to vestry
- Monument in the south aisle
- Blocking granite segmental-headed arch
- Of former rood stair turret
- Walls plastered
- C16 style octagonal drum pulpit
- Dated 1939
- Brass eagle lectern dated 1895
- Gothic-style oak prayer desk
- Dated 1954
- Gothic style oak benches
- Dated 1931
- Some C19 pine box pews in aisles
- And rear of nave
- One C15 oak bench end
- Carved with blind tracery
- Has been preserved
- Norman-style Beerstone font
- Restored in 1893
- Timber Gothic tower screen
- A first word war memorial
- C17 clock movement to rear of the nave.
- Painted arms of Elizabeth I over south door
ROOFS
- Nave has restored but essentially original open barrel vaulted roof
- Massive secondary strengthening crossbeams below
- North aisle has a ceiled wagon roof
- Moulded ribs and purlins
- Good carved oak bosses
- Wallplate enriched with four leaf decoration
- South aisle is similar but not identical
- Now open.
- Chancel has a C19 version
- Open with crossbraces
FLOOR
- Flagged
- Incorporates a high proportion of granite graveslabs
- Dating from the C15, C16 and C17 and C18
- The earliest with inscribed crosses
- The best in the north aisle
PAINTED BOARD
- C19 painted benefaction board
- To rear of south aisle
- Records a gift of 1541
- North aisle has a pair of C19 painted boards
- Recording the Ten Commandments
- West end of north aisle another painted board
- Recording the Ringers Articles
- Beerstone plaque with moulded frame
- Records the 1705 benefaction of one Thomas Hall
CHANCEL
- Furniture and fittings are all C20
- Sanctuary is lined with small field panelling
- Linenfold panelled reredos
- Altar front carved with angels flanking the Agnus Dei
- C17 style oak altar rail
- Gothic style stalls
MONUMENTS
- West end of the south aisle
- Dated 1701
- But name is illegible
- Rest are C19
- Best in memory of William Ponsford (d.1807)
- And his wife Mary (d. 1782)
Other information
Not only is this an attractive Perpendicular Dartmoor Parish Church but it dominates the village and also can be seen for miles around
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