Sutcombe

from

Some Old Devon Churches

By J. Stabb

London: Simpkin et al (1908-16)

Page 225

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.

SUTCOMBE. St. Andrew. The church [plate 225a] consists of chancel, nave, short south aisle, north aisle, south porch, and west tower. Architecturally the church does not present anything of great interest, but it is well worth a visit for the old bench-ends and the remains of the rood screen. There is a piscina with drain in the wall of the chancel on the south side of the altar, and on the north side next the easternmost bay is a hagioscope or window, it seems placed rather high for a hagioscope. The south aisle is separated from the chancel and nave by three arches, two more pointed than the third, one pier has shields on the capitals without arms. The north aisle is divided from the nave by five arches, the rood staircase and upper doorway remain in this aisle; in the east window of the aisle there are some remains of old glass. The font [plate 225b] which appears to be late Perpendicular in date, is octagonal in shape, and it most probably stands in its original position, as part of the pillar against which it is placed has been placed has been cut away to allow for the projection of the upper part of the bowl. There are the holes in the rim of the bowl in which the hinges of the original cover were fixed.

The pulpit [plate 225c] has some good carving on the panels, it has been removed from its original base and now stands on the floor, the book rest is supported by a female half-figure holding an open book. There are several old encaustic tiles which were relaid during a restoration of the church in 1876; they bear representations of the lion, rose, fleur-de-lis, etc.

There are no monuments of any note in the church, but the inscriptions of many of the gravestones are interesting, several are in memory of members of the Prideaux family.

The lower portion of the roof screen remains [plates 225d and 225e], it consists of a series of narrow panels carved with foliage, grotesques, and diaper patterns, no two being alike. The work, which is probably of late date, is not of the type usually found in Devonshire churches. The bench-ends [plate 225f] are very fine, and bear in many instances coats of arms including those of the Prideaux of Theuborough and Soldon, who did much in enriching the church. On the bench-ends will also be found the arms of the De Esse, Spencer, Giffard, Specot, Grenville, Wyke and other well known Devonshire families. Bench-ends with religious subjects are not present in any great number, but there are a few; for instance, there is the Calvary Cross with the Crown of Thorns, and the nails of the Crucifixion, the five Sacred Wounds on a shield, the Scourge and Sponge, a hand holding the bag; many of the bench-ends are carved with grotesque designs. There is an old sundial over the south porch and beneath is the inscription:- John Letheridge Rector 1785
E. Walter . C. Warden.

On a gravestone in the churchyard is the following epitaph:-

"From Peters tears to Peters joy
This Peter is translated
And after threescore years annoy
In heaven he is instated
With this he chose the better part
Never to be repented
And held his Saviour in his heart
Thus are his joys augmented." Peter Hancock (Bachelor)
Late of Yellowland, in the parish of Holsworthy
who entered into eternity the 9th day
of Jan, in the year of our Lord 1811
Aged 65 years.

The registers date from 1653.