Church of St Catherine of Alexandria

Church of St Catherine of Alexandria, Whitestone

A parish church of medieval origin with fabric largely dating to the 14th century. The south transept may be of early 14th-century date, while the remainder of the medieval structure is probably late 14th-century Perpendicular. The chancel was partly rebuilt in 1888 by Robert Medley Fulford, with further restoration in 1914 by Fellowes Prynne and restoration of the chancel in 1930 by Caröe and Passmore. The exterior is rendered in roughcast except for the 19th-century porch, which is constructed of volcanic trap brought to course, brecchia, volcanic trap and freestone dressings, with slate roofs throughout.

The plan comprises a nave, chancel, west tower, north aisle, south transept, south-east porch, and a flat-roofed store occupying the angle between the chancel and aisle. A window in the south transept suggests an early 14th-century date, although the transeptal arch appears Perpendicular. The chancel is roughcast and creamwashed, featuring a three-light east window of probably 19th-century Perpendicular design with a hoodmould and three buttresses. On the south side are two 1888 two-light windows in red sandstone with richly moulded free Decorated style detailing. The south transept has a two-light Decorated east window in volcanic trap with saddle bars, stanchions and old glass. Its south window is a three-light 19th-century Perpendicular window with a hoodmould; medieval brecchia jambs and sill survive. The nave contains one 1888 two-light red sandstone Decorated window that replaced the former doorway to the west gallery. The north aisle has a three-light Perpendicular 14th-century east window with a hoodmould and moulded jambs (with some replacement of mullions), and a similar west window. On the north side is a blocked moulded four-centred doorway in volcanic trap at the west end and three three-light Perpendicular 14th-century windows with replaced mullions, old stanchions, saddle bars and some old glass.

The three-stage battlemented west tower has angle buttresses to the west and single diagonal buttresses to the east. A three-sided projecting north-east stair turret rises above the battlementing without pinnacles. The west face displays a shallow-moulded two-centred doorway below a three-light 14th-century window with volcanic trap tracery intact, though with some replacement of mullions and jambs. A chamfered rectangular bellringers' opening appears on the east face, with two-light square-headed belfry openings featuring trefoil-headed lights on all four faces. The porch, which abuts the transept, has an asymmetrical gable and a shallow moulded outer doorway similar to the tower's west doorway. A trefoil-headed niche in the porch gable contains a circa late 19th-century carved demi-figure of St Catherine of Alexandria. The porch features a late 19th-century collar rafter roof, stone benches, a moulded four-centred inner doorway with a 17th-century door, and village stocks positioned within.

The interior has plastered walls with a chamfered volcanic trap chancel arch dying into the north and south walls, and a plain four-centred tower arch. The arcade comprises three bays with an additional bay extending into the chancel. The arcade features octagonal granite piers on brecchia bases with octagonal brecchia capitals and heavy double-chamfered brecchia arches; the arch into the chancel chapel is similar but lower. The transeptal arch is cranked and chamfered and may date to the 16th century; the transept is known as the Courteney aisle.

The roofs are ceiled wagons with slender ovolo-moulded ribs, and some ancient colour survives on the wall plates. The chancel roof is enriched at its east end with a fine timber frieze fixed above the wallplate, formerly said to be associated with the rood screen but more likely derived from a chantry screen with eagles between mouchettes. Significant Jacobean woodwork survives, including the front of the west gallery in the nave (the actual gallery has been removed), dated 1621. The gallery front has a frieze of semi-circular arches with painted armorial bearings, supported on four timber columns. A parcloze screen is probably contemporary, featuring arcading and strapwork friezes.

A fine set of late 19th-century and early 20th-century chancel fittings includes an unusually minutely-carved dado, a three-bay reredos in a crested rectangular frame, altar rails with bobbin-turned balusters, and choir stalls with an attached reading desk. A timber pulpit with wineglass form features blind tracery and a reused medieval stem. The church contains a set of shouldered bench ends, probably of 1888. Other notable woodwork includes wainscot panels from the old rood screen fixed on either side of the tower arch, parts of the Jacobean west gallery resited in the tower screen, a Jacobean chest, and a 17th-century chair in the chancel carved with the Fall on its back. A 19th-century octagonal font with carved stem is accompanied by a circa late 17th-century or early 18th-century font cover.

The stained glass is of special interest. Early 19th-century coloured glass (possibly of 1811) survives in the head tracery of several windows. In the aisle is a 15th-century virgin and representation of the five wounds; in the transept are an HIS monogram and the arms of the Courteney family. The medieval glass derives from the atelier of the Doddiscombsleigh school. The 19th-century east window is a particularly good example of work by Drake of Exeter; the other chancel windows, also by Drake, are filled with patterned glass. An Anne Best charity text dated 1713 survives on plaster in the aisle, along with some early 19th-century wall monuments.

The church stands prominently on a hill and was mentioned by Polwhele as a mark for sailors using Exmouth. Its exterior is unusual in being rendered, while the interior is rich in woodwork spanning the 17th, 19th and early 20th centuries, with interesting stained glass of considerable historical value.