Clayhidon Devon
Church of St Andrew ,  Clayhidon Devon <a href="https://www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/55U0k62Eb2b">www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/55U0k62Eb2b </a> sited on one of the highest areas in the parish with outstanding views down the valley, dates back to c1274, with nave &amp; chancel surviving from this time    The Ham stone font is also of this date <a href="https://devonchurchland.co.uk/galleries/clayhidon-church-of-st-andrew-gallery/#gallery/08445c84d4e98331889667c99115095d/4322" rel="noreferrer nofollow">devonchurchland.co.uk/galleries/clayhidon-church-of-st-an...</a> and 13c encaustic tiles are now set under altar table.
 A tomb recess in the south aisle wall with half an effigy of a priest (presumably reset in the 1840's) is also late 13c and possibly represents Sir Ralph de Hidon <a href="https://www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/T8S5L9X6SV">www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/T8S5L9X6SV</a> who was presented, according to the Bishops’ registers,  on February 27th, 1274, as rector .  At that time the advowson was under the patronage of lord of the manor, Sir John de Hidon,     As manorial lords played an active role in the foundation of churches on their estates in medieval times, it may be that the church was founded by Sir John , who then made provision for one of his sons by presenting him to the living   (The last male of the family died in 1300   Their heiress Margaret de Hidon married Josce de Dynham whose family  had vast estates here and in north Devon particularly around Hartland). 
The church consists of a  three stage west tower with south-east square-section stair turret , chancel, nave, south aisle and south porch with sundial in the gable wall dated 1782. <a href="https://devonchurchland.co.uk/galleries/clayhidon-church-of-st-andrew-gallery/#gallery/08445c84d4e98331889667c99115095d/4340" rel="noreferrer nofollow">devonchurchland.co.uk/galleries/clayhidon-church-of-st-an...</a>
The south aisle and tower were added in the 15c when the nave &amp; chancel were remodelled internally , the wagon roof having decorated bosses <a href="https://devonchurchland.co.uk/galleries/clayhidon-church-of-st-andrew-gallery/#gallery/08445c84d4e98331889667c99115095d/4335" rel="noreferrer nofollow">devonchurchland.co.uk/galleries/clayhidon-church-of-st-an...</a>
The rood loft is gone, though the stair turret remains along with its early 16c door .
The windows are mostly perpendicular, though they have been restored at various times. 
The  wonderfully carved wooden pulpit may be 17c   <a href="https://devonchurchland.co.uk/description/clayhidon-church-of-st-andrew-description/#Pulpit Wood Carving Plain Foliage 16th Century Medieval Clayhidon" rel="noreferrer nofollow">devonchurchland.co.uk/description/clayhidon-church-of-st-...</a>
The pews, altar rails, commandment boards,  benches, stalls,  patterned glass to chancel and coloured glass to the west window all date to the restoration of 1846.    The west gallery was also possibly installed at this time (or earlier)  <a href="https://devonchurchland.co.uk/galleries/clayhidon-church-of-st-andrew-gallery/#gallery/08445c84d4e98331889667c99115095d/4338" rel="noreferrer nofollow">devonchurchland.co.uk/galleries/clayhidon-church-of-st-an...</a>
The church room was the local school during the 19c

(In the 1086 Domesday Survey , Clayhidon is referred to as Hidone possibly from the Saxon hieg-dun meaning ‘hay hill’. The clay soil is no doubt responsible for the later prefix. In 1214 it becomes Hydun and in the Book of Fees of 1242 Hidune. It appears in the Court of Rolls of 1485 as Cleyhidon and in the 16c as Cley Hidon.   In 1809 the first Ordnance Survey map as Clehydon.   By 1850 it was finally mentioned in its modern name )

Picture with thanks - copyright Martin Bodman CCL <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Clayhidon,_St_Andrew's_church_-_geograph.org.uk_-_128206.jpg" rel="noreferrer nofollow">commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Clayhidon,_St_Andrew%27s_...</a>
clayhidon church devon