Parish Church Of St Peter

Parish Church of St Peter, Stourton Caundle

This is a parish church of mixed dates, comprising elements from the 13th to 15th centuries, with significant restoration in 1902. The building is constructed of rubble and coursed squared rubble with ashlar dressings, with stone-slated, gable-ended roofs and stone coping to the chancel.

The plan comprises a nave, chancel, west tower, south porch, and south chapel. The chancel dates to the 13th century and displays Early English character, while the early 14th-century work is Decorated in style. The late 14th and 15th-century elements are Perpendicular.

The west tower is of three stages with diagonal buttresses to the first two stages. It has an embattled parapet with crocketted corner finials and a string course with corner gargoyles beneath. A vice turret on the north side contains two loops. The west door features a 2-centred arch with continuously moulded jambs and a stopped label. Above it is a 3-light window with reticulated tracery under a 2-centred head with returned label. The second stage contains a rectangular loop to the north and a sundial and clock to the south. The third stage has 2-light windows on each side with quatrefoil and Perpendicular tracery beneath 2-centred heads with stopped labels.

The nave windows are 2-lights with Perpendicular tracery under 2-centred heads with returned labels. The west side has oval gallery windows in ashlar surrounds. Reset 18th-century gravestones alternate with windows on the north nave wall.

The north and south chancel windows are lancets with chamfered heads and jambs. The south chancel has a 2-centred chamfered doorway. The east chancel window is 2-lights with Perpendicular tracery under a 2-centred head. The chapel east window is 2-lights with Perpendicular tracery under a 2-centred head with stopped label. The south window has 3-lights with Perpendicular tracery under a segmental pointed head.

The south porch has a 2-centred arch with continuously moulded jambs and returned label. The inner door features a continuously chamfered 2-centred head with a stopped label. The west wall contains a single-light window under a 2-centred head.

Internally, the tower arch has flat jambs and a 4-centred head with two hollow chamfers. The chancel arch is 2-centred and moulded with a central hollow chamfer continuous with the jambs and shafts with capitals to the responds. The chapel arch is similarly 2-centred and moulded, with a central hollow chamfer and shafts with cable-moulded capitals to the responds. A large squint is present.

The nave roof is a barrel roof with tie beams and original wall-plates. The chancel has a wagon roof with an original wall-plate. The chapel has a similar roof with a later tie beam and shields on the wall-plate.

Interior features include a 15th-century altar tomb in the nave with a canopy and double-cusped arch containing a recumbent female effigy. An early 18th-century gadrooned font is present. 13th-century piscinae survive in the chancel and chapel. An early 16th-century wooden panelled pulpit features linenfolds below and blind tracery with crocketted finials above. A 4-centred rebated rood vice door remains. Various studded plank doors on strap hinges include a west door dated 1766. 17th-century communion rails have been reset under the chancel arch. A black letter painted inscription is present in the chapel.