Church History
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................The CHURCH of St MARY THE VIRGIN in Cheriton
Bishop is based on an early Norman church, traces of which can be found in the south wall of the nave. The Font
with its carved corn sheaf is Norman and dates from 1075. The Chancel is 13th Century and the Nave and Tower were
built in the 15th Century. The first Rector to hold office is recorded in 1265. The Church tower has a ring of
six bells four of which date from 1770.
The Rev H. Darroll-Smith, who was Rector in 1939, recorded the following notes about the history of the Parish
Church:
"The CHURCH stands a little to the south of an ancient way that passed near Cadbury
Castle and Posbury Camp. It was the highway, which connected Crediton with Okehampton.
The Church consists of Nave, Chancel, Aisle and Tower and though these parts seem to conform with one another they
are of different dates. As you enter through the south door there is silent testimony all around of centuries of
development.
The FONT is 11th Century (circa 1075). This makes it almost certain, since there are no other remains of a Norman
structure, that there was a simple Norman church on the present site.- this took the form of a rectangular Nave
extending in the east from just beyond the nave/chancel division westwards to the tower arch, and north to south
from the arcading of the aisle to the south wall. The font is lined in mosaic tessarae, not of ancient date, and
the wooden cover is modern.
The south wall of the NAVE was reconstructed in 1884 and it was found that old stone had been redressed and used
again. This can be seen in the stonework of the windows which is volcanic trap from Posbury Camp. The Normans preferred
sandstone but in the 13th Century, granite took its place. The SOUTH DOOR has a semi-circular head of sandstone
and is not later than the 12th Century. It seems therefore that the south wall contains the oldest part of the
Church.
In the 13rth Century the east wall of the Norman church was broken through and a CHANCEL added with a barrel roof,
simple lancet windows and priest's door. In about 1450 the south wall of the chancel developed a lean outwards
and a buttress support was added.
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At about the same time, 1450, the west wall of the nave was demolished and the building of the TOWER began. The
texture of the stone near the top and a leaden plate suggests that the tower is higher now than when first built.
Also in the 15th Century the north wall was pulled down and the AISLE built.
The columns supporting the nave are granite monoliths and were brought from Dartmoor. In the same period the ROOD
LOFT stair was cut into the south wall and an eight bay decorated screen extending across the nave and aisle was
erected. Of this screen only the bays fronting the Lady Chapel remain. The benches with carved ends are contemporary
with the screen.
The PULPIT dates from the early 16th Century and is considered to be a fine example of medieval carving. Its curious
designs are of birds, flowers. grotesque heads, a mermaid and a harpy. The base of the pulpit dates from 1939."
At one time there was a medieval rood screen extending across the nave in front of the chancel. All that remains
is in front of the Lady chapel but it still has painted figures on each panel which depict, in contemporary clothing,
eight Saints. Many have been defaced - probably in the Civil War when other damage was caused - but the colours
and figures were carefully restored in 1939 and in the 1970s and remain a unique feature of St Mary's Church. A
few panels from the remainder of the screen, which was dismantled in the 19th Century, are exhibited on the south
wall. This screen, between the Chancel and the Nave was replaced by a modern structure but this was dismantled
in about 1978.
A portion of alabaster is exhibited on the south wall of the chancel which had embedded in it a Charles I shilling
(this was stolen from the church in the 1980s). This may have come from a reredos behind the altar and again may
be a relic of the Civil War when any decoration in a church was destroyed.
Two painted achievements of the Royal Arms are exhibited - the smaller on the south wall over the door is of Queen
Elizabeth I with an inscription " Oh Lord God for thy Mercy sake save and preserve our Nobell Queene"
The other Royal Arms on the west wall are of King George II.
Peter Werran.
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