Church Of St Michael

SY 2591 AXMOUTH CHURCH STREET 26/17 (south side)

8.5.67 Church of St Michael GV I

Parish church. C12, C13, C14 and C15 restored 1889 by Hayward of Exeter. Stone rubble with freestone dressings and slate roofs. C12 nave and chancel. The south doorway has one order of octagonal colonnettes, voussoirs with zig-zags and crenellations. Inset is a four centred arch doorway with tympanum above dated 1698. North windows of nave have four centred arches. The chancel has restored perpendicular four light east window and south window with pointed trefoil heads. Narrow early C13 south aisle with large buttresses and two light flat headed windows. C13 south chapel with restored windows. C19 north vestry. Late C15 south porch. Late C15 west tower with diagonal buttresses, battlements, polygonal north-east corner stair turret with battlements. Two light ogee traceried bell openings. Large perpendicular four light west window and moulded west doorway without capitals. Interior: Three bay south arcade with window piers and capitals and with double chamfered pointed arches. Wide moulded chancel arch without capitals. Similar arch to south chapel and tall tower arch also without capitals. Circa 1400 wall paintings on two of the arcade piers, depicting Christ displaying his wounds and St Peter or St Michael or the Madonna. Another fragment of painting on south wall of aisle depicting Martyr being tortured. Monuments: In chancel recess C14 effigy of priest. In south chapel monument to Dame Anne Erle and her son Thomas 1650/53. In nave Richard Hallett of Stedcombe 1747. In south aisle Gulielmi Serle 1726. Late C19 furnishings. Two tomb chests in churchyard, one of 1777 immediately north-east of chancel, the other north of church, date 1733.

Listing NGR: SY2563891036