Church Of St George

The Church of St George is a parish church with architectural elements spanning from the Norman period to the 19th century. It is predominantly Perpendicular in style, with a Norman west tower, a 14th-century chancel, a late 15th-century south chapel, and a mid-15th-century nave with north and south aisles, each possessing a porch. The church was restored in 1873 by Piers St. Aubyn.

The structure is built of random and coursed rubble with a stone slate roof. The diagonally buttressed four-stage west tower features 2-light windows to each side of the top stage, contained within an arch of two orders, the inner order decorated with chevron and shafts. A polygonal stair turret rises on the north side, and the tower has a parapet and a 5-light east window. The interior features a fanvaulted ceiling and a panelled tower arch.

The aisles are buttressed and gabled, with porches to the south, evidence of a former loft in the southern porch. The clerestory has 2-light windows with straight heads. The south chapel has a 4-light east window and a 6-light square-headed south window. The chancel features a 19th-century east window and a 14th-century 2-light opening to the south.

Inside, the church retains an elaborately furnished appearance and is floored with encaustic tiles. A four-bay arcade has piers of four clustered pillars, leaf cresting on the arch springers, and a similar chancel arch. The nave roof is of tie beam and queen post construction, dating back to circa 1470, as is the roof over the south arcade. The remainder of the roofs are 19th-century. Numerous corbels are carved, including three depicting lions passant. The church houses a 13th-century octagonal font supported by nine detached shafts.

Significant monuments include reclining figures in the chancel representing a lady of the Enleigh family (1370) and Sir John de Enleigh and his lady (1380). A brass set into the floor commemorates John Seyntamour and his lady (1485), alongside brasses to John Compton and his wife (1505). Two wool marks of 1585 are visible on the west side of the arch to the arcade. A wall monument in the south aisle features a bust of Samyel Danyel (1619). There are further 18th- and 19th-century wall plaques.

The church’s furnishings include a 17th-century hanging chest and three further chests, a 17th-century communion table, and a 17th-century screen with ballustraded upper portion separating the south aisle from its chapel. A carved royal arms is found on a stone plaque above the south door, dated 1574. A late 19th-century pulpit, choir stalls, and organ are also present. The chancel features an ogee-headed piscina and a cumbray, likely dating back to the 14th century; a further piscina is located at the east end of the north aisle, where there is panelling from a former reredos. Stained glass windows are from the 19th century.