Bridford Devon
 Church of St Thomas A Becket, Bridford Devon consists of a three stage west tower, nave, chancel, 4-bay north aisle, south porch &amp; lean-to north-east vestry.
The original small chapel constructed of rubblestone. was dedicated on the 8th November 1259. 
The oldest part of the present building is the 14c chancel, but it is uncertain whether or to what extent this includes parts of the original chapel.
The nave, north aisle and tower, built of granite ashlar, are perpendicular in style and were added in the late 15c / early 16c .
The most striking feature is the rood screen <a href="https://www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/e9566y9QQc">www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/e9566y9QQc</a> 
This wonderfully carved screen of 1520 = 30 was placed by rector Walter Southcote financed by the profits of his family's wool trade   Still rector in 1547 he was later to witness the destruction of the Rood, a large wooden crucifix in the centre,   Not long after in 1561, in the reign of Elizabeth l , rood screen lofts were also destroyed   His initials can still be seen &quot;WS Laud Deo&quot; (Praise be to God) 
The lower part of the screen features elaborate carved 8 inch figures of laymen making music and dance, and ecclesiastics, also some saints including St Genesius, patron saint of clowns and comedians, dancers and mimes, magicians and jugglers,.  The decoration includes grapes, foliage, the Tudor Rose and the pomegranate symbol of Katharine of Aragon,  
The stairs to it still remain behind the pulpit attached to the screen, <a href="https://www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/o4d8R19952">www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/o4d8R19952</a> and rebuilt by Rev R Palk Carrington +++ here from 1805 - 1842 who removed some parts of the screen to provide its carved panels. <a href="https://www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/7CeN8126Xv">www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/7CeN8126Xv</a> 
Both are richly coloured &amp; carved with foliage , Tudor roses and the pomegranate device of Queen Katherine of Aragon, and have  8&quot; high carved figures, although their faces were mutilated at the time of the 16c Civil war.
The four-bayed parclose screen separating the chancel from the north chapel, has morality figures painted on the north face, probably from later 16c / early 17c <a href="https://www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/nDHP80A941">www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/nDHP80A941</a> <a href="https://www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/2Q8U8cCNm5">www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/2Q8U8cCNm5</a> <a href="https://www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/60p0xpe55j">www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/60p0xpe55j</a> <a href="https://www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/EVe6cL51HN">www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/EVe6cL51HN</a>

Fragments of 15c stained glass exist in the south windows of the chancel and the east window of the north chapel.

The organ is a &quot;Father Willis&quot; built in 1886, it was removed from the north Lady Chapel to the rear of the north aisle in 1956. . <a href="https://www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/r2156b3HJt">www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/r2156b3HJt</a> standing next to the octagonal granite font 

There are six bells in the belfry, one dating back to the 16c. They are in working order and rung for Evensong and festivals.

The gabled south porch of granite ashlar has half doors believed to have been erected c 1801 to prevent the holding of Midsummer Watches there, following the suicide of a Mr Ellacombe whose death had been foretold on such an occasions.  The inner doorway has a 17c plank strip door under a perpendicular boarded waggon roof 

Fragments of 15c stained glass now survive in the south windowof the chancel &amp; east window of the north chapel - they were moved from other windows in 1955 / 56 <a href="https://www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/2T6T4V869z">www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/2T6T4V869z</a>  <a href="https://www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/8eH3e612qK">www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/8eH3e612qK</a>

1661 Royal Arms painted on a board is sited above the nave south door;  <a href="https://www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/6VVTnJYM42">www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/6VVTnJYM42</a>

+++ Carrington was also responsible for many improvements and changes.  He also replanted the glebe land, some 241  acres with woodlands that are still evident around the village.  Every family celebration was marked by the planting of more trees. 
One of the most colourful incumbents was Joseph Taylor 1759 - 1772 who, together with Jim Prout, rector of East Ogwell, and a curate Henry Jenkins, held regular hard drinking parties with local farmers in the church after the service.  On one occasion shots were fired into the church narrowly missing one of the farmers, who it is said was never the same man again.  Both Taylor (aged 39) and Prout (aged 44) died young, presumably from the demon drink. 

Chris Andrews CCL <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/5119490" rel="noreferrer nofollow">www.geograph.org.uk/photo/5119490</a>
bridford church devon