High cliffs with the occasional wonderful beach and deep valleys leading to the sea, North Devon is a distinct region that had a very distinct culture.
In the churches we tend to find wondrous carved benchends and light filled space, with not so many rood screens as further South. Some lovely Victorians wonders too near the coastal resorts.
North Devon church articles
Woolacombe Church of St Sabinus Description
Designed by a famous Arts and Crafts architect, W D Caröe, using the local red stone that almost glows, with magnifico stained glass
Westleigh Church of St Peter Description
Inside a simplicity, granite pillars and old benches… sixteenth century, along with some delicious roofbosses, nice stained glass and…
Atherington Church of St Mary Description
Entering Atherington church is a pause, a questioning, a bareness, aged woodwork and clear glass taking a moment to reveal their beauty
Satterleigh Church of St Peter Description
An extraordinary church, holding layers of historical beauty and set deep in the fields of glorious Devon, a total jewel.
Swimbridge Church of St James Description
Swimbridge church is all about the woodwork, like so many of the gorgeous creatures in Devon, but this one has the dialled turned up to 11.
Mortehoe Church of St Mary Magdalene Description
Conquistador gold from El Dorado, pirated jewels from Spanish galleons, treasure chests trawled from the deep… how Mortehoe puts them all to shame!
Knowstone Church of St Peter Description
Inside there is an attractive sparseness along with a bit of mish mash of styles, from Norman to Victorian and various stops in between.
Molland Church of St Mary Description
Inside it is an ocean of deeply browned box pews lapping against gentle cliffs of crooked walls, whispering hello from the 18th century.
Instow Church of St John the Baptist Description
The inside has been well partied up by renovators, that screen is early twentieth century, the whole is now a pleasing combination
West Down Church of St Calixtus Description
And this church is old too, its shape has been almost unaltered since the 13th century, though the north transept might be 14th
Parracombe Christ Church Description
It is a well-proportioned Victorian church set on a hillside with beautiful views, loved by the parish and everybody else.
Bishop’s Nympton Church of St Mary Description
The nave is lovely bare stone with soft honey pews covered by a billowing cloud of a ceiling. A wonderful peace to wander into.
Marwood church of St Michael Description
The structure of the church is a delight. The foliage carved capitals, the space, the chipped stonework, all these are worthy of our time…
Woolfardisworthy Church of All Hallows Description
Inside is delightfully sparse, we can see the bare bones of the church, like the rock strata in the local cliffs, and looking closely the details start to come together until we gasp in love.
Braunton Church of St Brannock Description
A glorious church with a Norman south tower and a striking spire, fascinating medieval benchends and roofbosses, and a very impressive interior.
North Devon map of churches
On the map below you will find church articles that are published and chronicled or churches yet to be published.