Dartington

from

Some Old Devon Churches

By J. Stabb

London: Simpkin et al (1908-16)

Page 77

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.

DARTINGTON. St. Mary. The church originally stood close to Dartington Hall, and the old tower can still be seen there. It was a 14th century building, and was erected on the site of a still earlier church, some of the foundations of which were found on the north side of the 14th century building. This church was restored about the year 1850 by Mr. Pearson, who 28 years afterwards, removed the church to its present position. The actual walls of the old church served only to form the foundations of the new, but the most interesting features, viz., the porch, with its stone groining, the old 14th century door with its sanctuary ring, the old granite battlements, the font with its 14th century stem, the still older screen (unfortunately incomplete), the pulpit [plate 77a] and the carved oak seats, some old and some like the fine open roof, dating from the 1850 restoration, were used in the new church. An oak reredos has recently been added, and it is much to be wished that the screen and pulpit may be cleaned off and repaired. The old oak was long ago repaired with deal [Pinus sylvestris], and then painted over with oak graining, but so well toned that visitors often fail to discover the difference. Mr. Pearson built the new tower, which contains six bells, and the clock is a memorial of the late rector, who bore the largest share of the expense of moving the church. The screen [plate 77b] is of a type intermediate between Staverton and Kenton, but not so good as the latter, with perhaps the exception of the vine leaf cornice.

The church consists of chancel, nave, north and south aisles, south porch with parvise, and western tower with pinnacles.

The registers date: baptisms, 1542; marriages, 1538; burials, 1539.