Church Of All Saints

Church of All Saints, Winkleigh

This parish church dates principally from the early 14th century, remodelled extensively in the 15th century, with 17th and 19th century additions. It was restored in 1872–73 and again in 1902. The building is constructed of coursed and random stone rubble with gable-ended slate roofs, except for a flat roof to the north transept.

The plan comprises a nave, chancel, north aisle, north and south transepts, a west tower, and a south porch, with a 19th-century vestry added to the north side of the chancel.

The earliest features are the chancel windows, which suggest an early 14th-century date, confirmed by documentary evidence. A major remodelling in the 15th century is evident in the nave and north aisle; the tower and north transept are also likely to date to this period. The small south transept, known as the Gidley Chapel, was added in the early 17th century by Bartholomew Gidley as a mortuary chapel for himself and his descendants.

Exterior

The west tower is three storeys with battlemented parapets and crocketted pinnacles. Its lower stage has set-back buttresses. The west doorway is a probably rebuilt two-centred arch with high relief fleurons carved on its soffit. The west window is a three-light Perpendicular window with restored tracery. Belfry openings are two-light with cinquefoil heads. A pentagonal stair turret is positioned on the north side of the tower.

The north aisle features large three-light Perpendicular windows, partly restored, with carved headstops to the hoodmoulds on the north-facing windows. Granite ashlar buttresses sit between the windows. The north doorway is a four-centred arched granite entrance with an arched niche above containing a probably 19th-century sculpture of Christ the Shepherd.

The north transept is battlemented with set-back buttresses and large gargoyles on its east and west sides. Its north window matches those of the aisle. An elaborate 19th-century ashlar chimney stack, positioned axially between the organ chamber and chancel, is crenellated with a gargoyle at each corner. A 19th-century low crenellated vestry sits between the north chapel and the east end of the chancel; behind it stands the restored Perpendicular east window to the chapel.

The chancel's south side contains a three-light window with intersecting tracery, circa 1300 (though possibly restored), together with a contemporary Y-tracery window towards the east end, flanked to its left by one- and two-light lancets. A small two-centred arched priest's doorway lies between them, all executed in red sandstone.

The small south transept bears a plaque on its east wall known as the Gidley medal—a circular heraldic shield carved with a castle device, awarded for loyalty during the Civil War. The south side of the transept has a very small two-centred arched granite doorway with a two-light segmental-headed granite mullion above it. A slate sundial sits in the apex of the gable, with a ball finial to the coping stones in the crude form of a skull.

The nave has three three-light windows: the two outer ones in Decorated style and probably rebuilt, the other Perpendicular. The rebuilt south porch has a large arched doorway with diagonal buttresses on either side. Image niches in the apex contain carved figures of Mary, the Shepherds, and the Three Kings.

Interior

The porch has a probably restored painted wagon roof with moulded ribs and a carved wall-plate. The south doorway is simple with a two-centred arch and chamfered reveals. A large carving in the recess above depicts Christ with the Apostles.

The north aisle features a six-bay granite arcade with Pevsner A-type piers with moulded bases and cup capitals. The arches are roll and hollow moulded, depressed four-centred forms. The piers to the north chapel arch and that of the chancel have slightly different mouldings. The tower arch is plain four-centred with chamfered imposts. The south transept has a simple round-headed arch with inset roll moulding.

Original wagon roofs survive in the nave, north aisle, and chapel with moulded ribs, carved bosses, wall-plates, and angel corbels. The aisle and nave roofs are ornately painted; the restored chancel roof is also painted with extensive gilding. The north transept has a flat boarded ceiling.

An octagonal font features carved four-petal flowers to its panels and trefoiled-headed recesses to its shaft. The north transept contains several late 18th and early 19th-century marble wall memorials, including one of 1656 to Arthur Penfound of Penfound in Cornwall. Some 17th-century floor memorials survive in the transept and elsewhere; one in the south transept, probably to a Gidleigh and dated 1634, bears a heraldic shield with a castle. A marble wall memorial to Bartholomew Gidley (died 1702) in the south transept features a carved coat of arms incorporating a castle and sheaves of corn.

The internal wall surfaces are covered with sgraffito decoration from the late 19th-century restoration, differing in design between the nave and aisle—which have horizontal bands of red alternating with various floral and geometric designs—and the north chapel and chancel, which display a less colourful incised decoration.

The imposing pulpit of Derby alabaster and the ornate carved alabaster and mosaic reredos were both part of J F Gould's restoration. The only surviving old glass appears in the north-west window, depicting figures of angels bearing shields.

Historical Context

The major restoration of 1871–73, undertaken by J F Gould at a cost of £6,000–7,000, included carved stone and woodwork, carved wooden bench ends by H Hems, roof painting by J Thorne of Crediton, and internal redecorating with sgraffito plastering executed by Gould in collaboration with Radford.

In 1902, the chancel was restored by G Fellowes Prynne. Choir stalls were installed, the roof was painted, and a fine oak screen, carved by Herbert Reed, was inserted.

The interest of this impressive church lies in the survival of medieval and 17th-century fabric alongside high-quality decorative restoration work from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, particularly the distinctive sgraffito ornamentation of the walls.