Axmouth

from

Some Old Devon Churches

By J. Stabb

London: Simpkin et al (1908-16)

Page 12

Transcribed and edited by Dr Roger Peters

Full text available at

https://www.wissensdrang.com/dstabb.htm

Prepared by Michael Steer

Between 1908 and 1916, John Stabb, an ecclesiologist and photographer who lived in Torquay, published three volumes of Some Old Devon Churches and one of Devon Church Antiquities. A projected second volume of the latter, regarded by Stabb himself as a complement to the former, did not materialize because of his untimely death on August 2nd 1917, aged 52. Collectively, Stabb's four volumes present descriptions of 261 Devon churches and their antiquities.

AXMOUTH. St. Michael. The church [plate 12a] consists of chancel, nave, south aisle, south choir chapel, with piscina, north porch, and west tower with four bells. The building is evidently of great antiquity. The north doorway is Norman [plate 12b], with the characteristic mouldings and zigzag around the arch, and the ancient work in the interior proves that the original church was at least as early as the Normans, if not earlier. A large portion of the present building is Early English and Perpendicular styles of architecture. The south or Bindon aisle is the oldest portion of the church, it is separated from the nave by four pointed arches on massive piers. There is a wide chancel arch springing from piers without capitals; the remains of the rood stairs are in the south pier. The tower was originally at the east end of the south aisle, but was taken down about the year 1500, and the west tower erected. Three of the bells have the following inscriptions:- (1) Anno Domini, 1612; (2) Tristram Collins, William White, C.W. T.R. B.F. 1755; (3) Soli Deo detur gloria. T.P., Xon 1661. B.D.

Beneath an arch on the north side of the chancel is the recumbent figure of a priest fully vested in chasuble, amice, maniple, etc., the feet resting on an animal, either a lion or a dog; the monument probably dates from the beginning of the 13th century. There is no certainty as to who the effigy represents, but it has been suggested that it may be Roger Hariel, Prior of Loders and Vicar of Axmouth from 1320 to 1324. In the south chapel is a monument with the inscription:- Here lye the bodyes of Dame Anne Erle, wife of Sir Walter Erle, and of Thomas Erle, their only sonne and heire, - two rare patterns - the one for her pietie, the other for his wisdome and abilityes. She was heire to Francis Dymmock, of Erdington, in the county of Warwick, Esq. The sonne dyed June the first 1650, the mother the twentysixth of January 1653.

There are memorials also of the Mallack family of Rousden, and the Hallett family of Stedcombe. There are two very interesting paintings on the pillars at the east end of the nave, they are rather indistinct, but are, I think, intended to represent our Lord showing the Sacred Wounds, and St. Paul.

Near the outer gate of the churchyard, at the entrance to a garden, is preserved an old stone measure called a "Lord's Measure", a standard measure for corn formerly kept in church porches.

The date of the first vicar recorded is 1264, Vincent de Loders.

The registers date from 1603.