Lustleigh

from

Some Old Devon Churches

By J. Stabb

London: Simpkin et al (1908-16)

Page 152

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.

LUSTLEIGH. St. John the Baptist. The church consists of chancel, nave, north aisle, south transept, south porch, and west tower with six bells.

The east wall of the chancel is about four feet thick, this is evidently the oldest portion of the church and may date from the 12th century. In the chancel there is a good example of the Easter Sepulchre of First Pointed character. At one time within the altar rails, but now removed to its original position in the south transept, is the effigy of Sir W. Prouz, Knt., his body was found in the south transept in a lead coffin of a peculiar shape, being in the form of a human body.

The church possesses an interesting relic of pre-Reformation times in the presence of two pierced stone brackets for the cord from which the Lent veil was suspended. At Durham and Winchester Cathedrals iron hooks are extant which were used for the same purpose. The brackets are on the chancel walls at some height above the altar rails. The Lent veil was a large curtain hung between the choir and altar from Shrovetide to Holy Week. On Wednesday in Holy Week, at the words in the Gospel "and the veil of the temple was rent in twain" [Matt. 27:51], the curtain was dropped and not used again until the next year.

The object of greatest antiquarian interest in the church is the inscribed stone forming the sill of the entrance door. The inscription reads:- DETREID OC CON HINOC. No one seems to know certainly what is means, it has been suggested that it may be "David son of Conninoc". [Compare with this extract from Devon Church Antiquities: ... The object of greatest antiquarian interest in this church is the inscribed stone forming the sill of the entrance door of the south porch; the inscription, as far as can be made out, is:- "Detlreid oe Con Hinoc," and Professor Rhys [1840-1915] says it is "either a man's name and surname or epithet, or else the names of two men; of course it is a tombstone." It probably dated from about the 9th century. ...]

The rood screen extends across the nave and aisle [plate 152a], it is of the same type as the one at Bridford and is thought to be the work of the same artist. Mr. Bligh Bond thinks it is "unique, being most certainly a Post-Reformation screen and not intended to support any rood left"; on the other hand Dom Bede Camm does not altogether agree with him, he does not think the detail shews any later character than that of Bridford, if so late. Whatever the date may be the carving is exceedingly good. On the panels of the screen, instead of the usual painted figures, there are little statuettes carved in low relief. The figures seem to be intended to represent ecclesiastics wearing Elizabethan caps and arrayed in surplices and hoods [plate 152b].

In the north wall of the church are two effigies, of a lady and a knight supposed to represent Lord and Lady Dinham, dating from the time of Edward I [1272-1307] or Edward II [1307-1327].

There is a font supported on what appears to be a large central shaft surrounded by smaller ones, but the central shaft is really the old Norman font with cable moulding. In the chancel is a double piscina and a triple sedilia; as in so many cases, the floor has evidently been raised.

For many years Lustleigh Church was without a pulpit, the sermons being preached from the lectern. The old pulpit, much more modern than the screen, was removed, as its canopy was in danger of falling. The present pulpit is of oak with deep carving, and is the work of Mr. Reed of Exeter, it is well in harmony with the screen.

There are two openings through the wall of the porch into the south transept; it has been suggested that these were intended for administering the Blessed Sacrament to lepers, but it hardly seems probable they would be allowed to wait in the porch.

The first rector on record is Peter de Taunton, December 19th 1262.

The registers date from 1631.