Sherford Church of St Martin Basics
Listed building grade 1
Regularly open
Address
Church of St Martin
Sherford
Kingsbridge
TQ7 2AU
Geographical coordinates
50°17’07.9″N 3°42’54.9″W (enter these in your smartphone navigator)
Devonchurchland says…
Set deep in rural South Devon in a very pretty churchyard, this is very much a church out of deep time, especially as it is very much a 14th century structure.
And a fine structure it is, the gorgeous pale grey local slate stone bringing a lot of joy to the party. The windows are a real standout too, from the 14th and 15th centuries, extremely fine.
Inside the14th century continues with north and south arcades, octagonal pillars and beautiful arches.
The probable early 16th century rood screen is a real star, battered as it is. Really very good carving, on the cornice and the wainscoting, set off by medieval paintings of the saints on that same lower panelling. These paintings are in a unique style for Devon.
The nave is a little delight with some very nice tiles indeed, as well as a 14th century piscina with a couple of similar scattered around the church.
The pulpit was made from various rood screen carvings back in the 19th century, and it has recently been somewhat disassembled and some of those carvings replaced on the screen. It still packs a punch though.
Topped off with pretty George I coat of arms, this is indeed a very valuable church.
Outline
PLAN
- Nave
- Chancel
- North and south aisles with chapels
- South porch
- West tower
AGE
- C14 origin
- C15 porch and fittings
- Restored late C19 or early C20
BUILT FROM
- Roughly coursed slate stone rubble walls
- Gabled slate roof
Exterior
WEST TOWER
- 3 stage crenellated
- Diagonal buttresses
- 5-sided stair turret on south side
- Belfry openings have 4-centred lights
- Simple chamfered 2-centred voussoir arch on west side
- A completely renewed Perpendicular style window above
SOUTH AISLE
- Crenellated parapet
- 5-sided rood stair turret
- The windows to the south aisle are of the same Decorated style as the north aisle
- The one to the west of the stair turret is probably a complete restoration
SOUTH PORCH
- Tall
- Crenellated
- 4-centred voussoir arch
- Wide semi-round moulding
- Early C19 gates with iron railings
- Decorative finials
CHANCEL
- Tall 5-light Perpendicular style east window
- Complete restoration
- Windows on the south of the chancel and east end of the south aisle
- Also Perpendicular
- Have had their tracery restored
NORTH AISLE
- Crenellated parapet
- 2 stair projections
- One at its west end with a quatrefoil light
- Shallower one at the east end for the rood stairs
- The 4 windows to the aisle are of 3-lights
- Star tracery in the C14 Decorated style
- Largely original
- Although some rendering and restoration has taken place
- The north doorway is under a divided buttress which forms a porch to it
- 3-light Perpendicular window at east end of aisle
- Partly restored
Interior
VARIOUS
- South doorway
- Simple 2-centred chamfered voussoir arch
- The internal walls are rendered
- Apart from that at the west end
- Tall 4-centred tower arch
- With high imposts
- Trefoil-headed piscina in the chancel
- Similar stoup inside the south doorway
- Inside the north doorway is an ogee-headed stoup
- The roofs are all complete restorations
- Wagon roof to the nave
- Flat beamed roofs to the aisles
- The pulpit
- Made up of carved timbers
- Reused from the screen
ARCADES
- Identical north and south C14 arcades
- Octagonal pillars
- Capitals
- Double chamfered 4-centred arches
- In each arcade the 3rd bay has a much taller arch
- With higher capitals
- Might be evidence of previously existing transepts
- Although no other evidence
ROOD SCREEN
- Survives across the width of the church
- Somewhat mutilated
- Coving removed
- The panelling is painted
- Figures of saints and apostles
- The 2 parclose screens are also preserved
- Quite heavily restored
MONUMENT
- On the north wall of the chancel
- Wall memorial to Elizabeth Reynell
- Died in 1662
- Slate slab with Latin inscription
- Marble pilaster to either side
- Fluted frieze running across top and bottom
- Surmounted by 3 armorial shields
Other information
The main fabric of the church dates from the Decorated period of the C14, although the porch might possibly have been added in the C15.
Some of the fittings and windows date from the C15.
A restoration in the late C19 or early C20 was fairly restrained resulting in little damage to the historic fabric.
This page contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0
