Church Of Saint Peter

Church of Saint Peter, Twitchen

This is a parish church with a 15th-century tower, while the remainder was rebuilt and the tower altered in 1844 by J. Hayward. The chancel was refurnished in 1916. The church comprises a three-bay nave, one-bay chancel, and west tower, built in Decorated Gothic style.

The tower is constructed of squared and coursed sandstone in two stages. It has a chamfered plinth, diagonal buttresses to the first stage with chamfered offsets, coved string courses and a parapet (probably rebuilt in 1844) with raised corners and triangular raised centres to the north and south sides. A rectangular north-east stair turret with small windows and a Welsh-slate hipped roof projects from the tower. Two-light square-headed belfry openings with chamfered reveals, stone mullions and slate louvres are present, with two further belfry openings to the south, one above the other; these openings were probably restored in the 19th century. The first-stage west window is in Perpendicular style and consists of three cinquefoil-headed lights with panelled tracery, chamfered reveals and a stone arch above. The 15th-century west doorway has a wave-moulded arch with spur stops and a 19th-century ribbed boarded door. The plinth returns to ground on each side of the door.

The nave and chancel are built of dressed sandstone with limestone ashlar dressings and gable-ended Welsh-slate roofs. Both have chamfered plinths, buttresses with chamfered offsets, moulded stone eaves cornices and parapeted gable ends with stone copings. The chancel gable has a cross at its apex. The nave windows are of two chamfered cinquefoil-headed lights with quatrefoils in the tracery and stone arches above. The chancel has moulded cinquefoil-headed lancets to the north and south with stone arches above. A chamfered-arched south doorway to the left of the nave has runout stops and a ribbed boarded door, approached by four stone steps. The east window is in Perpendicular style with three cinquefoil-headed lights, panelled tracery, chamfered reveals and a stone arch above.

The interior features a chamfered round tower arch with chamfered imposts. A 15th-century chamfered-arched doorway to the tower stair has a 19th-century ribbed boarded door, and a 15th-century newel stair ascends within the tower. The west window and door have continuous splayed jambs. The 19th-century six-bay nave roof has a moulded wooden wall plate, trusses consisting of principal rafters and low chamfered collars (or high ties) with scroll stops and corner brackets, pairs of purlins and a boarded soffit. The nave windows have chamfered segmental-pointed rear arches. The chancel arch is 19th-century and continuously chamfered. The three-bay chancel roof is similar to the nave roof, with collar trusses and single purlins; the chancel windows and south door have shallow hollow-chamfered rear arches.

The chancel was refurnished in 1916, as noted by a brass plate on the wall. Fittings include plain communion rails, a carved wooden altar, and a panelled oak reredos dated 1938, carved by H. Reade of Exeter. A late 19th-century vicar's desk and chair and wrought-iron reading desk are present. A late 19th-century three-sided wooden pulpit stands in the north-east corner of the nave, with blind two-light traceried panels to the front, a moulded top rail and a wrought-iron reading desk support. Mid-to-late 19th-century benches with panelled ends occupy the nave. A late 19th-century organ was restored in 1938 and retains an early 18th-century style case. A restored 12th-century font has a 19th-century octagonal step, a restored circular stem with a moulded and dogtooth-ornamented base, a gadrooned and chevron-ornamented circular bowl, and a flush 19th-century wooden cover. A plain late 17th-century communion table in the vestry at the west end of the nave has plain turned bulbous legs and a shaped apron to the front. An old chest is also housed in the vestry. A possibly 18th-century chest with panelled sides is located in the chancel. The chancel floor has 19th-century encaustic tiles.

The stained glass includes 19th-century work in the chancel windows dated 1844. A nave window has 19th-century diamond-leaded clear glass and 19th-century stained glass in the tracery with Biblical quotations. Two panels of 19th-century stained glass in the tracery of the west window depict Saint Matthew and Saint Luke; panels depicting Saint Mark and Saint John have probably been removed. A slate plaque above the chancel arch is inscribed "RE-BUILT / A.D. / 1844 / WILLIAM BURDETT, MINISTER / JOHN TAPP, CHURCHWARDEN". The bells date from the 18th and 19th centuries and were restored in 1911.

A church on this site is first mentioned in 1340 and was originally a chapel dependent on the Church of All Saints, North Molton.