All Saints

All Saints has a rich social and architectural history at the heart of its community. It has witnessed over the centuries; a murder in the church (1327), rebellious villagers, fighting Rectors (1370, 1646) and bootlegging (1800-39) with smuggled French brandy hidden above the current church porch.

The first stone church was built in 1230 on top of the old wattle and daub churches that dated from 900AD. The original stone church was a narrow building (the main nave and chancel of the present church) with a low tower. In 1400 the Lady Chapel was built on the right of the High Altar and in 1450 the church was widened, doubling its size and putting in a complete roofed south aisle between the granite pillars and a new South wall. The squat tower was also replaced with a new one three times as high. In 1509 Henry VIII approved the construction of South Porch, which had a tiny room over it. On the top right of the inner doorway, is a very worn stone carving of a man, girded with a sword, holding a tree in one hand and a ring in the other.

The oldest item in the church is the big red sandstone font on the steps leading to the base of the tower. This chalice shaped font came from a 'production line' in a quarry near Paignton at the end of the first millennium.

The tower has six bells, four of special interest (1654-1844), and originally boasted a beacon atop the tower possibly lit during Spanish Amada (1588). In 1848 the tower had developed such a list to the east that the top 20 feet were removed and rebuilt with a weight tilt to the west. Viewing the tower from the church yard to the south, you can still see the resulting kink.

The altar crucifix was carved by an Oberammergau Passion play actor. The church has particularly vibrant stained glass on the south wall with personal links to community. There are striking 3D memorials dating from the 1600s in lady chapel.