Church Of St Swithin

SS30SW PYWORTHY CP VILLAGE CENTRE

13/60 Church of St Swithin

14.2.58

GV II*

Anglican parish church. Pre-Conquest foundation, early C14 alterations to chancel, north and south aisles built with clerestorey, south aisle refenestrated C15 and tower added c1400, north aisle refenestrated early C16, extensive restoration of 1885 including reroofing, reseating, reflooring and many windows renewed by R. Medley Fulford of Exeter. Random rubble local stone, Hatherleigh stone dressings, slate roofs, coped verges, decorative ridge tiles. Three bay chancel, 4-bay nave with north and south aisles and clerestorey, west tower, south porch. 4-stage tower with angle buttresses to second stage, no parapet, small, plain pyramid finials, 2-light louvred bell openings, clock, stairlight on south front, 2-light window above C19 trefoil-headed doorway approached by external flight of stairs in south-east corner, no west door or west window. Buttressed south aisle: C19 3-light windows west gable end and to west of single storey porch, bevelled arched opening, barrel vault roof with enriched ribs restored and dated 1885, pointed arch opening,also bevelled to south aisle with C19 door with decorative ironwork; uncusped 3-light windows to left of porch, C19 3-light window east gable end, south wall of chancel C19 priest's door beside remains of blocked window opening, two C19 2-light windows, C19 4-light East window, slate tablet to Samuel Parsons died 1791 with good lettering, north wall three 2-light windows, east gable end of north aisle 3-light window, north wall three 3-light mullioned windows under square hoodmoulds, pointed arch doorway between first and second bays west, C19 rose window west gable end. Interior: rendered. Chancel arch chamfered in 2 orders and dying into imposts, double chamfered pointed arch openings to arcades with octagonal piers, clerestorey with depressed pointed arch openings, tower arch depressed pointed arch openings. Rood stair depressed segmental opening with square-headed roof loft opening above. Early C14 piscina and sedilia in chancel extensively restored in C19. Roofs: chancel and nave C19 ceiled wagon roof with enriched beams and bosses, chancel roof with angels on wallplate; open wagon roofs in aisles with remains of original enriched beams and bosses. C19 fittings including internal porch. Norman octagonal granite font on C19 base. The church was dedicated byBishop Grandisson of Exeter in 1334. (White's Devonshire, 1878; Kelly's Directory, 1910; J.M.Slader, The Churches of Devon, 1968)

Listing NGR: SS3129202881