Church Of St Sylvester

CHIVELSTONE CHIVELSTONE VILLAGE SX 73 NE 9/11 Church of St. Sylvester 26.1.67 II *

Parish Church. C15 restored in late C19 or early C20. Slatestone rubble walls. Gabled slate roofs. Plan: nave, north and south aisles and chapels, south porch and west tower, all apparently dating from the C15. Exterior: 3 stage crenellated west tower with set-back buttresses. 5-sided stair turret on south side. South Hams type roll-moulded west doorway with 4-centred head. 3-light Perpendicular window above has had its mullions renewed. 2-light cinquefoiled belfry openings. North aisle has 4 completely restored Perpendicular style windows. Blocked north doorway near west end. The north chapel projects slightly and appears from its junction with the chancel on its east end to have been rebuilt. The east end windows have also been renewed. The south aisle is recessed from the chancel at the east end. The most easterly window to the south aisle is largely C15 with only part of its mullions replaced. 3-sided rood stair turret adjoining it. Otherwise windows are complete restorations. The small gabled south porch has stone coping and a chamfered plinth continuous from the aisle. 2-centred granite moulded doorway with carved spandrels and square hoodmould, C19 panelled gates with railings above. Interior: 2-centred arched double roll-moulded south doorway with contemporary door of overlapping studded planks with very heavy strap hinges and large wooden lock. Porch has partly restored medieval wagon roof. The internal walls have old plaster. 2 5-bay granite arcades with Pevsner A-type piers which have moulded cup capitals and roundheaded arches. Double chamfered rubble tower arch with projecting imposts. Over the nave and aisles the medieval wagon roofs survive,although somewhat restored, whilst over the chancel the roof has probably been completely replaced. Medieval rood screen, somewhat mutilated and without the coving, but with painted figures to panels and also some renaissance ornament. The parclose screens also survive but in a less complete state. Unusual survival of a very good wooden medieval octagonal pulpit, richly carved and set on a tapering stem. Altar rails and table are C17 with chunky turned balusters and legs.

Listing NGR: SX7832338746