Church Of St George And St Mary

The Church of St George and St Mary is a parish church with Early 13th-century origins, though most of the fabric dates to the 14th and 15th centuries. It is situated within landscaped grounds associated with Cockington Court. The church was restored in 1882-83 by Hine and Odgers, and again between 1916 and 1920 by Charles Nicholson and Herbert Read, who oversaw the restoration of the screen. It is constructed of local stone rubble with red sandstone and Beerstone dressings, topped with gable-ended slate roofs.

The church has a low, two-stage tower with a crenellated parapet, corner pinnacles, diagonal buttresses, and a stair turret projecting from the north wall. A probable 17th-century west doorway features a two-centred arch with an ovolo surround. The north and south aisles have four-light Perpendicular windows with hoodmoulds, with a taller version at the east end of the chancel. A gabled north porch leads to a small round-headed doorway. A 19th-century vestry is located on the south side of the west tower, and an 18th or early 19th-century porch is positioned on the north side.

Inside, the ancient west door has a plank door with coverstrips and strap hinges. A round arch opens into the nave. The nave and aisle roofs, replaced in 1950, incorporate some old bosses. There is no chancel arch. Five-bay arcades with a fifth bay overlapping the chancel feature moulded Beerstone piers; the south piers have carved capitals, while the north capitals are plain. Walls have been stripped of plaster, and an ancient doorway is blocked by the east wall of the north aisle. The floor is flagged. The tower appears to contain evidence of a priest’s chamber. The church contains mainly 19th- and 20th-century fixtures and fittings, including a reredos by Hems of Exeter (1881) and a lectern (1922). Choir stalls include a couple of medieval misericords reputedly from Torre Abbey. Late 17th-century communion rails have twisted balusters. The chancel and parclose screens were restored between 1916 and 1920 using fragments of the original 15th-century timberwork. A good late 16th-century timber pulpit with a "wine glass" stem and panelled sides ornamented with Renaissance details is said to have come from Torre Church. There are some 15th-century benches with carved bench ends. A good 15th-century Beerstone font has Perpendicular decoration. A 17th-century bell with a reverse inscription is set in the south aisle. Early 18th-century memorial graveslabs are in the floor, commemorating two John Easterlys. Fragments of 15th-century glass remain in the south aisle.

The church forms part of an exceptionally well-preserved group of listed buildings in Cockington Park and the adjoining village.