Church of St Andrew

Details

COLEBROOKE COLEBROOKE SS 70 SE 3/86 Church of St Andrew 25.8.65 GV I

Parish church. Transitional Norman origins; late C13-early C14 nave, chancel and south transpet (the latter known as the Horwell Aisle and was built as a chantry by Sir Walter de Bathe); C15 tower; north aisle and chapel built circa 1460 in memory of John Coplestone (died 1457); late C15-early C16 south porch; reseating and restoration of 1854; minor renovation work circa 1890 and tower restored 1925-6. Walls of volcanic stone and red sandstone, mostly roughly squared and laid to courses but neat ashlar to tower and porch; most original detail of volcanic ashlar but some Beerstone and C19 restoration detail of Bathstone ashlar; slate roofs. Decorated and Perpendicular styles. Nave and chancel under continuous roof, south transept and porch, west tower and north aisle with east end chapel. High west tower in 4 stages with chamfered plinth, diagonal buttresses and embattled parapet with corner pinnacles enriched with Tudor crockettes and standing on diagonally-set shafts. On north side stair turret projects with canted sides, its own embattled parapet and small slit windows. Large, partly restored, Beers tone belfry windows; each has 3 lights with cinquefoil heads, central transom and square-headed hood. On west side is a C15 volcanic stone 2-centred arch with a richly-moulded surround and cushion stops. On the left inside edge is carved the intials I.C. and the date 1674. It contains a C19 plank door hung on large wrought iron strap hinges with side and end scrolls. The window above is a complete C19 Bathstone replacement 3-light Perpendicular style window, its volcanic arched hood interrupting the lower drip course. Below each of the upper dripcourses on this side are small rectangular niches. The south side has a C15 2-light Beerstone window in similar style to belfry windows immediately above centre dripcourse, the bottom of which is hidden by a C19 wooden octagonal clockface with painted Roman numerals and brass hands. Lower on the wall is a slate sundial in an architectural terracotta aedicule with flanking Ionic pilasters and a tented and scrolled pediment. It is signed by Harry Hems of Exeter and dated 1889. Tower is surmounted by a C19 wrought iron weather vane. The south wall of the nave shows remains of a Transitional Norman arcade blocked in late C13-early C14, presumably when a south aisle was demolished. The arches, though not complete, suggest a series of pointed rather than round-headed arches. They have plain red sandstone imposts. Lower wall has been underbuilt when arches filled and early C14 windows inserted, 2 to left of porch and 1 to right; volcanic stone 2-light early Decorated windows with trefoil headed lights, a quatrefoil in the arched head and moulded hood. Window to right of porch has mullion and tracery missing and has heavy stancheon with saddle bars of probably late C18-early C19 date. South porch built of ashlar. It is gabled with kneelers and soffit-chamfered coping and base for an apex cross. Tall 2 centred outer arch with chamfered surround. Late C13-early C14 south transept of squared blocks of coursed masonry. Gable end has volcanic stone, early Decorated 3-light, the lights have acutely- pointed cinquefoil heads, original tracery and a hood similarly moulded to those on nave. East side of transept has a similar 2-light early Decorated window. South side of chancel has 2 C19 Bathstone 2-light replacement windows; Decorated style to left and Perpendicular style to right. Betweeen them is a restored C16 red sandstone round-headed priests door with ovolo-moulded surround, and containing a C19 plank door with strap hinges. Much restored east end with Bathstone kneelers, coping and apex fleuree cross. East window is a large replacement 4-light Perpendicular style window with probably original arched hood with labels carved as angels with shields bearing heraldic achievements; one featuring arms of the sees of Exeter and Winchester, the other of Bishop Oldham (1504-19). East end of north aisle is set back slightly with gable end restored in same way as east end of chancel. It contains a large, almost round-headed 3-light window with Flamboyant drop tracery including repeated ogee arches. Although window is completely C19 it is believed to be a copy of the original C15. As such it is very unusual and a fine example by English standards. The north side of the aisle is flanked by angle buttresses and contains 5 identical C15 3-light Perpendicular windows with buttresses between. There is a round-headed priests door with chamfered surround towards left end and an apparently original chimney shaft of volcanic ashlar serving a fireplace in the coplestone Chapel. The west end of the aisle contains a restored square-headed 3-light window with cusped cinquefoil round-headed lights. A lead rainwater head in the angle between the aisle and tower is dated 1728. Very good interior. The porch has stone seats each side and late C15-early C16 ceiled wagon roof with moulded ribs springing from below wall plate. Remains of stoup to right of door. South doorway is a 2-centred volcanic stone arch. Its chamfered surround has a rebate cut into it to accommodate the C19 plank door. The nave, aisle and chancel have ceiled wagon roofs. Nave roof is late C15-early C16 and a larger version of that in the porch. The plaster ceiling is laid on oak lathes and is probably original. The north aisle roof is original (circa 1460). It also has no bosses but the ribs have a different moulding and spring from the top of a plain wall plate. The chancel roof may contain sale C15 or early C16 carpentry but has been heavily restored with C19 oak panels, good carved bosses and embattled wall plate. There is no chancel arch. The tall plain tower arch is now blocked with a C19 benefaction board mounted on the front. A plaque to left of the arch records the restoration of the tower, pinnacles and bell chamber windows in 1925-6. There are plain beams to the ringing floor. The tiny doorway to the tower stairs is a volcanic stone 2-centred arch with chamfered surround and contains the original plank door hung on strap hinges. The late C13-early C14 arch from nave to south transept has a chamfered double arch ring of volcanic stone on plain semi-circular responds with shallow, soffit- chamfered imposts. Although the arch looks as though it could be Norman- Transitional work it does not relate well to the rest of the blocked arcade. On either side of the arch are round-headed squints, that to west affording a view of the chantry altar (since removed) from nave, and that to east affording a view of the high altar from the chantry. In the transept the walls are stripped of plaster. There is a piscina with a plain arched hood on east side. Below the south window 2 recesses with graceful ogee-arched canopies doubtless surmounted tombs of the Bathe family. Floor was raised in C19 and right recess includes a badly defaced graveslab in memory of Elizabeth Poyntingdon of Pennicott (died 1627). Between the nave and aisle is a 5-bay Beerstone arcade with 1 bay overlapping into the chancel. The piers are moulded (Pevsner's B-Type) with carved foliate caps. The capital between nave and chancel includes and Coplestone arms and the wall above is pierced for the rood gallery (nave screen removed in 1805). The chapel screen across the north aisle and the parclose do survive. They are similar oak screens probably dating from circa 1460 and very unusual being probably the work of imported Breton craftsmen. The aisle screen is 5 bays with a central double doors. There is a moulded sole plate and the lower wainscotting has linenfold panelling. The windows above are tall with slender mullions enriched with twisted ornament and the tracery is flamboyant in style based on ogival and mouchette forms infilled with an incredibly delicate filigree of tracery. The pairs of ogee heads in each light had more English looking applied crocketted ogees with poppyhead finials, some of which survive. The flattened ogee-headed doorway was apparently intended for a different door although the double doors hund on unusually shaped butterfly hinges seem coeval with the screen. The headbeam has a simple moulding and has mortises in the top for a series of finials. The 5-bay parclose is similar but not identical. The tracery of one of the windows here has a cleverly balanced asymmetry. The head is unmoulded and has a series of finials with crocketted heads which include slots up each side for decorative crestwork. The chapel door is probably original and has an oak draw-bar, the fireplace alongside has been blocked, and on south side is a recess in the shape of a blocked window. The floors throughout the church have been replaced with C19 tile and in places levels have been altered. Some defaced graveslabs are included, the oldest is in the north aisle in memory of John Coplestone (died 1457) and his wife Catherine (died 1467). In the chancel is a very fine altar and reredos of 1896 by Harry Hems and the gift of Francis Synge Silliphant of Combe House. Built of oak in Gothic style the reredos features a marble relief representation of the Descent of the Holy Ghost at Pentecost Silliphant family and their friends. It is flanked by the figures of St Andrew and John the Baptist. The C19 oak altar rail is supported on reused C18 turned balusters. The oak choir stalls are late C19. Pulpit of 1903 by Dart and Francis. The lectern is the drum of an C18 hexagonal pulpit built of pine with mahogany veneer and panelled sides. A unique survival is the mid C15 oak prie-dieu, now moved from the Coplestone Chapel to the nave. There is linenfold panelling on the front and back and the desk and bench ends are carved with grotesque figures framed by wreathed foliage; the seat panel features a robed figure holding a branch or palm in one hand and the Coplestone arms in the other, the desk panel features a scaly-skinned 'wild man' armed with a club and holding tile arms of the George family. Philip Coplestone married Ann Bonville (of the George family). Some of the benches and most of the bench ends are probably late C15-early C16. The ends have frames of wreathed foliage springing from vases and panels are carved with various patterns of Perpendicular tracery. One, in the north aisle, is unfinished. The chapel has a C17 table as an altar. Late Decorated-early Perpendicular Beerstone font Octagonal bowl with sides carved with square panels containing quatrefoils and alternate panels including a shield and around the base a floriated valance. Tapering stem with panelled sides and moulded base. Fine early C17 ribbed oak ogee font cover surmounted by a carved double- faced figure, believed to be a cleric in minor orders, wearing amice, alb and girdle. It was later given wings in mistaken belief it represented an angel. It now has a late Victoria Chain and counterweight in the form of a gilt-brass crown. Church lads some good mural memorials. The best is the Lady Elizabeth Coryton (died 1677) memorial on north side of chancel. It comprises a rectangular slate plaque with sonnet obituary in Beerstone bolection frame enriched with carved ascanthus Leaf. It has architectural framing with flanking free-standing Corinthian columns and a dentil cornice over cherubs heads. Above this is a scrolled pediment with central and smaller flanking heraldic cartouches and cherubs reclining on the scrolls. Either side are wings with foliage and masks. The soffit-wouded sill carried on scroll consoles enriched with grotesque faces with a shaped apron between including a skull and cross bones motif set in a bay leaf garland. The traces of ancient colour suggest marbled decoration. To the left is the C19 Silliphant mural memorial in white marble which comprises a set of 5 plaques to various members of the family who died between 1822-94 with a moulded cornice surmounted by pediment in which is a sunburst motif. On south side of chancel is the Margaret Burrington of West Sandford mural memorial (died 1666) which comprises a rectangular slate plaque in mould Beerstone frame surmounted by crowned skulls on pedestals and lozenge-shaped heraldic achievement in a cartouche. Next to it is a memorial to Anne Burrington of West Sandford (died 1659) in a Beerstone frame enriched with egg and dart. Both Burrington memorials include obituaries and Anne's is unusually original. In the Coplestone chapel are 3 C19 mural memorials; a white marble memorial in Tudor Gothic style to members of the Hanlyn family who died between 1777 and 1846, a white marble sarcophagus-shaped plaque on black marble base in memory of Ellen May Pickering (died 1853 , and a plain white marble memorial to Hugh Horatio Knocker who died of fever at Jellah Coffee, West Africa in 1869. In the north aisle is an Art Nouveau brass plaque on wooden base in memory of Frederick Arscott (died 1925) which includes enamel insets resembling cloisonee representing angels. Over south door a painted board with arms of Queen Victoria is dated 1865. On the floor of the south transept are 2 Beers tone carved grotesque heads presumably from the Norman-Transitional corbel table. 2 C17 oak chests in north aisle, one with variously shaped panels along the front made up of planted mouldings and another with a panelled front and gouged scrollwork along the sides an arcade along the top rail. There is also a plain C17 oak hutch in the north aisle and another in the south transept. Most of windows have been reglazed and have lost their ferramenta in C20 except the south side of nave, the transept and east window. The church is an important local landmark and has particularly rich fittings and furnishings, some of which are unique. Sources: Devon S.R.M.; Devon C19 Church, Project; Church Guide, Frank S Pepper fT978r

Listing NGR: SS7699600022

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:

96606

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LBS

Sources

Books and journals
Pepper, F, Church of St Andrew Colebrooke Church Guide, (1978)

End of official list entry

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