Significant architectural features and heritage qualities

The Building

St. Mary’s is well described in the recently published Conservation Management Plan

The church was wholly rebuilt between 1432-60.  There is an excellent record of the works to the church in the form of Archdeacons visitations book, and also the records kept by Charles Baker King, in charge of the major works of 1866-78, under Sir George Gilbert-Scott, which has been acknowledged as one of Scott’s fiercer ‘restorations’ of a medieval church.

Brief description of main features – externally

Tower
Red dressed sandstone, 120 feet high, 25 feet square at base.

Nave
Consisting of four bays, with steeply pitched roof.

South Aisle
Diagonal buttresses to the east end, and to each bay, all of two weatherings.
The fenestration is of four lights, four centred pointed windows with complex perpendicular style tracery.

North Aisle
Only part which can be seen is from west end, three light pointed windows, somewhat intruded by 19C boiler house.
Outer north aisle added in 1824 and enlarged around 1869, it has a separate gabled lead roof, with central octagonal stair turret, redundant since galleries were removed by Scott.

Chancel
The seven light east chancel window was inserted in the 18C removing an earlier lunette and skylight.

Vestry
Added by Scott and occupies most of the north east bay, and has minimum visual impact.

Side Chapels
Both of two bays, the north chancel is dedicated to St. Leonard.

Porch
Gabled, two storey, has a flue across vaulted stone ceiling with moulded ribs and    bosses 16thCentury inner doors, carved in early renaissance manner.

Interior
Two defining features, the aisle arcades and stone screens.  Plastered and white washed walls.
Pine bench pews fill all but outer north aisle, wagon roofed ceiling with gilded bosses in the nave and chancel.

Screens
Beer stone rood and par close screens erected in 1459/60, is considered one of the finest in Devon, noted for its Gothic tracery, niches and tabernacle work

Pulpit
Stone, originally painted, freestanding in front of screen, originally located against eastern part of north aisle.

Rood stair/turret
A notable feature, one bay inside the chancel, dark red with gilding.

Font
15th C stone, octagon, fairly standard design maybe earlier than screen.

Corporation Pews
Two, decorated front panels only remain, from 1636.

Organ
1861 by Father Willis, new location, case and gallery mid 20th Century.

Monuments
Mainly wall mounted.
The Blackland memorial in outer north aisle is notable.

Stained Glass
To the west, east and south, all good quality, more for its ensemble that individual pieces.

Bells
Info needed
Full peal, all in good order, rung every Sunday.

 

 

 

 

 

To contact us:

Phone: 01803 867011 or 01803 865615

e-mail: enquiries@stmarystotnes.org.uk