St Peter's, Tawstock, Devon

Parish Church of St Peter's, Tawstock, Devon

	St Peter's, Tawstock is a Grade I listed parish church largely dating from the 14th century but containing some 12th century elements in the nave and chancel. The church is cruciform in plan with a nave, chancel, north and south aisle, north and south transepts, crossing tower, south porch, and two story vestry.
	The chancel of St Peter's is dominated by the effigy tomb of William Bourchier, 3rd Earl of Bath (1557-1623), and the statue of Rachel Fane, Countess of Bath (1613-1680). The reredos is relatively modern, having been presented to the church along with the pews in the chancel by Sir Henry Bourchier Toke Wrey, 10th Baronet in 1888.
	The lychgate was designed by Gothic revival architect Sir George Gilbert Scott (1811-1878). Scott restored St Peter's, Tawstock in 1867.
	The sundial above the south porch is dated 1757. The inscription reads, "Watch and Prey. Time steals away."
	A few pieces of medieval glass survive in the west window of the north aisle. The Bourchier arms are incorporated into two of the shields. The shield on the right is blazoned with the arms of Thomas Bourchier (1404-1486) who was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1454 until his death.
	St Peter's, Tawstock houses four sixteenth century benches with elaborately carved ends. This is a hinky punk, a mythical and mischievous two-legged beast said to waylay unwary travellers and lure them into swamps.
	This bench end displays the arms of Henry VIII supported by a dragon and a grayhound. Included in the design is the Tudor rose, and a pomagranate, the emblem of Catherine of Aragon.
	This bench end features a Tree of Life motif and incorporates the Bourchier knot.
	The final bench end features a grotesque of birds and monster heads.
	A few Barnstaple tiles from the 16th century can be found at the foot of the statue to Lady Rachel Fane.
	The arches separating the aisles from the nave feature corbels decorated with leaves and heads.
	Human head corbel above a brass bracket.
	A somewhat unusual human head corbel.
	The significant of the three heads decorating this corbel is uncertain.
	This plaque in the north aisle commemorates the 19 men from the parish who died during World War One.
	Also in the north aisle is a plaque commemorating the five men from the parish who died during World War Two.
	The plaque commemorates Willie Fisher, son of Thomas Fisher and Mary Ann Brailey, who was born in Tawstock in 1864 and died during the Boer War.
	This small manorial pew dates from the 16th century when the Earls of Bath were lords of the manor of Tawstock.
	The 18th century plaster ceilings of both the north and south transepts display a design featuring a sunburst motif with interlaced vine tendrils.
	This gallery in the north transcept leads from the vestry to the tower.
	Above a door on the south side of the church are carved the arms of John Bourchier, 2nd Earl of Bath (1499-1561), impaled with those of his wife Lady Eleanor Manners.
	The elaborate waggon roof of the south chancel features richly carved beams and roof bosses.
	Various carved roof bosses decorate of the beams of the south porch roof.
	Although most of the carved roof bosses at St Peter's, Tawstock depict foliage, a few like this foliate head touch on other subjects. The foliate head or "green man" is a common roof boss motif in Devon churches. The green man is undoubtably of pagan origin and is commonly thought to represent fertility. Another interpretation, more in line with Christian teaching, is that the green man is a symbol of rebirth or resurrection.
	This roof boss depicting two male wrestlers is unusual as the wrestlers are naked except for shoes. The intertwined figures likely represents the Biblical story of Jacob wrestling with the angel.
	Heads are a common roof boss motif in Devon, however, their significance is uncertain. This roof boss is someone unusual as it depicts a bearded man in profile surrounded by foliage.
	The peacock was a heraldic devise of the Earls of Rutland. John Bourchier, the 2nd Earl of Bath (1499-1561), married Lady Eleanor Manners, sister of Thomas Manners, 1st Earl of Rutland (1492-1543).
	This is one of several shrouded heads at Tawstock.
	The "Bourchier Knot" is a heraldic devise of the Bourchier family. The Bourchier family acquired the manor of Tawstock upon the marriage of Sir William Bourchier (? -1469) to Thomasine Hankford (1422-1453), daughter of Sir Richard Hankford (1397-1431). William's grandson, Sir John Bourchier (1470-1539) was created Earl of Bath in 1536. Tawstock remained in the Bourchier family until death of Henry Bourchier, 5th Earl of Bath (1587-1654).
	The west end of the nave is dominated by the organ, dating from 1902, and the considerably older font.
	The font has an elaborate 17th century cover with crocketed ogee ribs and pinnacles around the crenellated drum.
	St Peter's, Tawstock is one of only a handful of Devon churches with a tower over the crossing instead of at the west end. The tower measures 26 metres in height and contains five bells dating from the 18th century and three from the early 20th.
	The timber ribs of the crossing roof form an interesting pattern and support the floor of the ringing chamber.
	Unlike the neighbouring parish of Yarnscombe, only one anonymous gravestone is found in St. Peter's churchyard. The inscription reads: OH! Reader stop & ere you go The tender Tear of piteous Woe Drop on this Grave which there contain Two Children & their Sire's Remains. He liv'd an honest upright Life, And left four Children and a Wife Those Children young no Sin could own And thus to Heaven their Souls are flown A deep _______________their Breath And _________________sudden Death _______________________ high ___

Home