Coldridge

from

Some Old Devon Churches

By J. Stabb

London: Simpkin et al (1908-16)

Page 66

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.

COLERIDGE (or COLDRIDGE). St. Matthew. The church consists of chancel, with priest's door, nave, north and south aisles, south porch, and west tower containing six bells. There are three piscinas in the church, one in the chancel, and one in each of the aisles. The piscina in the chancel is in the sill of the south window, but I believe this is not the original position, it was placed there during some restoration of the church. In the north wall of the chancel are the remains of what may originally have been a "leper's window", but I think the position is too high for it to have been used for this purpose, it is walled up on the outer side.

The north chapel was built by Sir John Evans, Knt., in the reign of Henry VIII [1509-1547], and contains his tomb and monument under an arch in the north wall. His carved oak prie-dieu, in a very dilapidated condition, is in the church, and bears an inscription showing him to have been the donor of the fittings in 1511. In the east window of this chapel is a very good specimen of old stained glass. There are a large number of old tiles bearing designs of the lion, rose, pelican, etc. The old parish chest is kept in the north chapel.

There is a fine rood screen [plate 66a] of the usual Perpendicular type; it consists of twelve bays, the groining and cornices remaining on both sides, it also retains the three pairs of gates. The cornices are very much the same design as those of Kentisbeare and Chawleigh. The great object of interest is the parclose screen [plate 66b], it being a very rare style in Devonshire; I believe there are only two others that in any way resemble it, viz., those of Brushford and Colebrook.

There is a fine 15th century pulpit [plate 66c], spoilt by restoration! It has been removed from its original base and has a very stunted appearance, being shunted in by pews. The font is Norman.

The registers date from 1556.