Church Of St Andrew

Church of St Andrew, South Tawton

A parish church of 15th and 16th-century date, substantially renovated in 1881. The building is constructed primarily of large blocks of coursed granite ashlar, with the older portions of both aisles being more rubbled and featuring Cocktree ashlar voussoirs. Granite ashlar detailing and slate roofs complete the exterior finish. The church comprises a nave and chancel set under a continuous roof, with north and south aisles both containing east chapels; the larger northern chapel is known as the Wyke Chapel. A tall west tower dominates the composition.

Most of the church was rebuilt in the 15th century, though not in a single campaign. The oldest surviving walls belong to the aisles; however, the east chapels and parapets of both aisles are secondary additions. The porch dates to probably the 16th century, while the vestry was entirely new-built in 1881.

The exterior is dominated by a tall and impressive three-stage west tower with set-back buttresses and an embattled parapet featuring corner pinnacles. The west doorway has a two-centred arch with moulded surround, and directly above sits a three-light window displaying Perpendicular tracery. Both aisles comprise five bays divided by buttresses. The four-bay sections adjacent to the nave contain three three-light windows each with similar Perpendicular tracery and include a plain two-centred arched doorway west of centre. The south doorway is sheltered by a 16th-century porch with embattled parapet and a two-centred outer arch with ovolo-moulded surround. The north doorway is blocked and has a small window above it. The windows of the chapels and chancel differ in style, though all retain Perpendicular tracery; the chancel's east window features an elliptical arch head. A narrow priests' door is set at the right end of the south aisle, and a semi-hexagonal rood stair turret marks the junction between the nave and the Wyke Chapel on the north side.

The interior is of high quality throughout. The nave has an exceptionally fine wagon roof, now open, featuring hollow-chamfered ribs enriched with four-leaf motifs, good carved oak bosses, and a carved foliate wall plate interrupted by a series of carved angels in various poses, some playing musical instruments. The chancel roof, like the porch, is a 19th-century replacement but executed as a copy of the original. The aisles retain their original low-pitch roofs, also with good carved oak bosses. A tall, moulded tower arch with caps to shafts opens into the nave.

Five-bay arcades on both sides are constructed primarily of Beerstone with moulded shafts in Pevsner's type A, featuring caps to shafts only (all except one carved with foliage). One bay in each arcade overlaps the chancel; that on the north side is granite and moulded differently. The floor comprises 19th-century tiles interspersed with a substantial number of mostly 17th and 18th-century graveslabs. The chancel floor features a 19th-century chequer pattern in black and white marble. The north aisle contains narrow granite doorways giving access to the rood stair. Walls are plastered throughout.

Furnishings and fittings of note include a 19th-century Gothic Beerstone reredos enriched with marble, a 19th-century arch to the organ loft north of the sanctuary containing rich early 20th-century carvings, and an altar rail dating to 1903 which represents a rebuild of a late 17th-century example with twisted balusters. 19th-century oak stalls stand in the chancel. A very ornate oak chancel screen with parcloses in late Perpendicular style is dated 1902. A 19th-century brass eagle lectern is of good quality. An 18th-century octagonal drum pulpit of excellent craftsmanship contains fielded panels inlaid with marquetry depicting the Evangelists. 19th-century pine benches have tracery carved into their ends; a couple are of oak and may be reused from late medieval benches. The granite font, dated 1851, features simple cusped panels around the bowl and a moulded stem; the original font, with a remarkably crude bowl possibly of Norman date, remains in place. A tower screen, similar to and probably contemporary with the chancel screen, is also present.

The church contains an impressive collection of monuments. The finest is that of John "Warrior" Wykes in the north chapel, dated 1592, featuring his recumbent figure dressed in armour laid upon a granite ashlar chest tomb, with a Beerstone tester carried on Ionic columns. The entire structure is carved with strapwork and displays the Wyke arms. The south chapel contains the unusual Burgoyne memorial dated 1651, a slate wall plaque carved as a family praying at a desk, framed in Beerstone which also includes carved figures at prayer. Other notable memorials commemorate William Oxenham (died 1743), Francis Moore (died 1739), and two similar Battishill memorials, both to men named Thomas, one dying in 1727, the other in 1728. Additional memorials date from the late 18th and 19th centuries. A marble benefaction board records the gift of William Oxenham in 1731, and a painted charity board is dated 1890.

This is a particularly fine granite church displaying high quality craftsmanship across all periods from the 15th century to the early 20th century.