Church Of St Petroc

The Church of St Petroc, formerly known as the Church of St Petrock, is a parish church dating from the late 15th century to the early 16th century. It is constructed of granite, featuring a rough granite ashlar west tower and slate roofs. The church includes a nave and chancel with a single south aisle, a north transept, a west tower, and a south porch. The south aisle has three-light Perpendicular windows, and there are similar windows in the north transept and the east window of the chancel. The east end of the aisle has a moulded elliptical headed doorway, while the south doorway features a moulded four-centred arch. The ashlar porch has a marbled four-centred arch with carved spandrels and a label.

The unbuttressed west tower is in two stages, topped with battlements and obelisk pinnacles, and has small one-light bell openings, with the west bell-opening displaying Y-tracery. The west window is Perpendicular, and the west doorway has a two-centred arch. There is a slightly projecting north-west stair turret. Inside, the church has ceiled wagon-roofs with carved ribs and bosses in the nave, chancel, and south aisle, while the transept roof is from the 19th century. The interior features a four-bay arcade with wide four-centred arches supported by moulded monolithic granite columns and moulded capitals. The north transept also has a similar four-centred arch and piers leading from the south aisle to the chancel.

Furnishings from the 19th and early 20th centuries are present, including the Royal Arms from 1728 and a simple stone tub front. Notable monuments include a tomb chest in the chancel with quatrefoil panels and a brass effigy of Thomas Williams, who died in 1566 and was the Speaker of the House of Commons in 1563, born at Stowford House. There is also a painted wooden plaque commemorating John Prideaux, who died in 1639, depicting kneeling figures; he was the Rector of Exeter College, Oxford, and Bishop of Worcester, also born at Stowford House. Additionally, there is a brass memorial for John and Agnes Prideaux, the parents of John Prideaux.