St Leonard

The Grade I listed church nestles under the Tor on the edge of the village providing a gateway to southwest Dartmoor. 

The valley is a lovely example of traditional upland farming. Built in the 15th century in late Perpendicular style the church has links to the Drake family, who married into a local landowning family in the 16th century: the Elfords. The White Rajahs of Sarawak are buried in the churchyard, with memorials in the church. The first Rajah, Sir James Brooke, retired to the village in the 1860s.

There is an excellent set of Pinwill bench ends from 1920/30s and a rood screen by Herbert Reed of Exeter 1910. There are several stained glass windows by John Hardman of Birmingham, linked to the Brooke family, and a delightful Sarawak War Memorial window depicting native Sarawak plants and animals as well as St Leonard, the church’s patron saint, and Saint Stephen: both patron saints of prisoners. The chancel has Victorian encaustic tiles from the 1860s. 

The church is an excellent focal point for local walks: to the moor with the Tor above the village (visit the Pixies Cave where John Elford hid from roundhead troops after the Civil War), and Bronze Age hut circles, stone rows and other archaeology. The churchyard has magnificent wild flowers especially in spring. There is a good footpath to the next village down the valley which has an excellent Public House. The church is open from 9am to 5pm every day of the year.