Plymstock

from

Some Old Devon Churches

By J. Stabb

London: Simpkin et al (1908-16)

Page 186

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.

PLYMSTOCK. St. Mary and All Saints. The confirmation of rights issued to the Priory of Plympton by Bishop Grandisson (middle of 14th century) enumerates these parochial chapelries as appropriated to it: Plympton, Brixton, Wembury, Plymstock, and Shaugh. The chapel is expressly referred to in 1352 as dedicated to All Saints. On October 7th 1547, Edward VI [1547-1553] granted to the Dean and Canons of Windsor, the rectory and church of Plympton, with the chapels of Plymstock, Wembury, Shaw, Samford, Plympton Maurice and Brixton. The Deans and Canons of Windsor are therefore the tithe owners of Plymstock and Patrons of the church, the incumbent coming under the designation of perpetual curate.

The church [plate 186a] consists of chancel, nave, north and south aisles, south porch, and embattled west tower with six bells, all dating from 1739, with the exception of the second, which dates from 1735. There is a fine Perpendicular rood screen extending right across the church, retaining its sets of doors. The groining is gone and the spandrels are filled with pieces of the old carving cut in lengths, giving a rather stiff appearance. It was restored in 1887. The southern series of arches are of the Decorated period, those on the north side of the Perpendicular.

The wainscot oak pulpit has a fine canopy, the carving of the Harris arms indicates that family as its source, it bears date 1666. To members of the Harris family (of Radford, in the parish) are several monuments, notably two erected about 1623 and 1677.

The church was spoilt by having a mean pitch pine sharp angled roof substituted for the old oak waggon roof at the time of renovation some 35 years since [ca. 1875].

This church has an old font [plate 186b], cup-shape in form, with a broad band of carving of Grecian character: it is mounted on a circular shaft. It is of dark red sandstone, its source unknown, probably it was brought from some other church. There is a good cover, but it was evidently not made for this font, as the font is circular and the cover octagonal: each alternate side is ornamented with a carved figure. It is probably of German workmanship, and dates from the 17th century.

The registers date from 1591.