Membury Church of St John the Baptist Basics
Listed building grade 1
Generally open
Address
Church of St John the Baptist
Membury
Axminster
EX13 7AF
Geographical coordinates
50°49’17.3″N 3°01’43.8″W (enter these in your smartphone navigator)
Devonchurchland says…
Set in a steep sided gloriously green valley, Membury church is a darling. The tower alone, tall and honey-shaded, is worth a trip alone, along with the surrounding countryside.
There are some Norman carvings near the porch and grotesques clambering around the same tower.
The interior is calm and peaceful, with a deep and low 13th century chancel with some delicious Victorian floor tiles.
In the north transept there is a 13th century of Alice de Mohun, and there are some good 17th and 18th century memorials in the south chapel; one especially to Frances Fry a very high quality bust.
In the the south aisle there is a fine 15/16th century screen, well restored and looking very good.
The quiet delight of this church extends around the gorgeous scenery, crisscrossed by footpaths and well worth exploring.
Outline
PLAN
- Nave
- Chancel,
- South aisle
- North transept
- South Porch
- West Tower
AGE
- The fabric is of C12 origin
- Although largely rebuilt in C15
- With a C13 chancel
- Restored 1893
BUILT FROM
- Stone rubble
- Slate roofs
Exterior
WEST TOWER
- Tall
- Buttresses set back from the corners
- Embattled parapet
- Perpendicular two light bell openings
- Perpendicular four light west window
- Over moulded four centred arch west doorway
- Polygonal stair turret on south side of tower
North transept
- Three light perpendicular traceried window
CHANCEL
- Group of three lancets for east window
- Lancets on north and south walls
SOUTH AISLE
- Embattled parapet
- With grotesque gargoyles
- Three light flat headed window
- Head stops to dripmoulds
SOUTH PORCH
- Embattled parapet
- Gargoyles
- Moulded two centred arch doorway
Interior
VARIOUS
- Four bay south arcade
- Double chamfered chancel arch on corbels
- Moulded four centred arch to north chapel
- Tall tower arch
- Base bedded into south wall of nave
- Squat Norman pier with scalloped capital
- Wagon roofs to nave, chancel and north chapel
- Moulded south aisle roof
- C15 octagonal font
- Quatrefoil panels
- C19 furnishings
SOUTH AISLE SCREEN
- Circa 1500 timber screen
- Linenfold panels
- Perpendicular intersecting tracery above
- Extensively rebuilt
MONUMENTS
- North chapel
- Circa 1257 to Alice daughter of Lord Brivere
- Recumbent figure in niche
- Said to be facsimile of one in Axminster church
- North chapel
- Nicholas Fry 1632
- Kneeling figures
- Columns supporting an open pediment
- Robert Fry 1725
- Frances Fry 1723
- Bust and inscription
- Nicholas Fry 1632
- South aisle
- To Sir Shilston Calmady 1645
Other information
The church’s magnificent tower and beautiful position in a wonderful valley is a real standout.
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