Church Of St Petrock

Church of St Petrock

This small parish church has early medieval origins and plan, but was largely rebuilt in the late 15th and early 16th centuries. It underwent extensive renovation between 1858 and 1859, including the addition of a new south porch, paid for by Selina Ward-Wreford of Clannaborough Barton.

The church is built of squared blocks of mudstone and volcanic stone laid to rough courses. Original details are of granite, while restoration details are of Bath stone and volcanic ashlar. The roof is slate with red ridge tiles. The building comprises a nave with a narrower and lower chancel, a west tower, and a south porch, with most of the visible fabric in the late Perpendicular style.

The unbuttressed west tower has two stages. It features a hollow-chamfered plinth and an embattled parapet with granite machicolations and crocketted corner pinnacles. The belfry is lit by square-headed two-light granite windows, each light with an elliptical head; their hoods comprise small granite cheeks descending from the top drip mould. A square newel stair turret projects from the north side, topped with a monopitch slate roof and lit by tiny slit windows. On the west side is a round-headed granite doorway with a hollow-chamfered surround and volcanic ashlar hood mould. Above this is a small square-headed two-light granite window similar to those in the belfry. The south side of the tower has a small elliptical-headed single light window serving the ringing loft. The plinth stops at the nave, and the coursing is interrupted at this point.

The nave has a soffit-chamfered volcanic stone corbel course. The south porch is gabled with a two-centred sandstone outer arch with chamfered surround, dating from the 19th century renovation. The east side wall includes 18th and early 19th century granite memorials to members of the Wreford family. To the right of the porch is a granite two-light square-headed window with restored volcanic stone cinquefoil heads. Another similar window appears in the south side of the chancel, though this is a complete replacement of volcanic ashlar. The east gable end of the chancel has a 19th century Bath stone replacement window—a three-light Perpendicular style window with a flat arched head and plain hood mould. The north side of the chancel is blind, while the north side of the nave has two repaired granite two-light square-headed windows matching those on the south side.

The interior is much restored. The porch has an open 19th century wagon roof bolted together with chamfered ribs and a series of carved bosses, all bearing the same geometric pattern. The south doorway is a partly-restored nearly round-headed granite arch with a double roll moulded surround, containing a 19th century plank door with ornate wrought ironwork. The inner arch of this doorway has a tall flat four-centred arch head, and to the right are the remains of a granite stoup. The original volcanic stone high tower arch has plain responds, soffit-chamfered imposts, and a triple-chamfered arch ring. Nineteenth century beams carry the ringing floor.

The nave and chancel have 19th century open wagon roofs with chamfered ribs and bosses carved with simple geometric motifs. The wall plate is enriched with a variety of four-leaf motifs, some of which may be reused work from the late 15th to early 16th century. The roofs are separated by a 19th century Bath stone chancel arch—a soffit-chamfered four-centred arch on false corbels.

The nave floor comprises patterns of coloured 19th century tiles interspersed with grave slabs, the oldest commemorating William Wreford, yeoman (died 1688), his wife Annis (died 1707), and son Roger (died 1720). The chancel floor is laid with 19th century encaustic tiles. The east window is flanked by 19th century painted Commandment boards. The altar rail, dating from the 19th century, features twisted stem supports and repousse ivy leaf brackets. The choirstalls, lectern, pulpit, and benches are all in 19th century Gothic style.

The granite font may date to the late 15th or early 16th century but was recut in the 19th century. It comprises a moulded base, octagonal stem, and octagonal bowl with faces containing sunken quatrefoil panels; alternate panels bear a flower motif.

Notable mural memorials include a marble monument to Grace Freke (died 1783) on the north side of the chancel, with a rectangular plaque surmounted by a bas-relief vase and an apron bearing a bas-relief cherub. On the north side of the nave is a simple rectangular marble monument to Sophia Hughes and her son George, who drowned together in 1811. A plaque over the south door commemorates the church restoration.

The stained glass in the east window (1863) and north window of the nave (1867) is by Hardman and Company. The north window of the chancel, in memory of Captain John Wreford and Julian Hardman of the First Royal Dragoons who died in 1900 during active service in the Boer War, contains a charming Art Nouveau representation of Saint Martin dividing his cloak.

The church is not electrified and is lit by 19th century oil lamps and brass candelabras. It is an unusually small parish church without aisles.