Brushford Devon
Church of St. Mary the Virgin , Brushford Devon  - a very small building of 12c norman origin, consisting of chancel, nave, south porch, and west tower, surmounted by a wooden spire, .built of local mudstone rubble, .stands at the end of a gated country lane.  
The present narrower chancel is probably 14c, with the nave rebuilt in 15c. 
The west tower topped originally topped with a spire was added in early 16c.   However this burned down in 1693 after it was struck by lightning and was replaced with a cap hung with slate tiles. .  Slate hung since c1980 It was formerly weather-boarded and hung with oak shingles in 19c.  Original there were three 14c bell cast by William Dawe of Exeter, , but 2 are now on the nave floor having cracked.   <a href="https://www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/eW42tLHH19">www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/eW42tLHH19</a> The remaining 14c bell is still in regular use.

The Jacobean oak semi-octagonal drum pulpit <a href="https://www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/ojMF3W8yG8">www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/ojMF3W8yG8</a> stands on a 19c sandstone base - the pulpit passage projects from south side, possibly adapted from former rood stair turret.   .https://www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/gmq6pB574d

All thoroughly renovated/ refurbished in 1876 by the Luxton family who were patrons of the church and provided some of the clergy here 

The south porch was also added in 1876  The south doorway is a probably restored plain Norman arch and contains an old plank door with front coverstrips fixed by large nails.  <a href="https://www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/g69b05W7mE">www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/g69b05W7mE</a>

The nave has a ceiled wagon roof, restored but still retaining some later 15c work.  It is 8 bays with crenellated wall plate, moulded ribs enriched with four-leaf decoration and several original carved oak bosses.  <a href="https://www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/4031666Bz0">www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/4031666Bz0</a>
The plain timber chancel arch and open wagon roof to chancel are 19c.

The late 15c gothic oak chancel screen, comprising 3 bays either side of central door.   Each bay has linenfold wainscotting, and very French looking tracery, and sub-tracery forming the finest filigree of flamboyant curves only a little of which survives.  . Original ogee- headed doorway with moulded surround was adapted for square-headed door (now missing).  A unique feature is the canopy which includes remains of 3 image brackets for 3 statues which were removed during the Reformation.   It appears never to have had a rood gallery and is now surmounted by simple 19c  crestwork.   As it is said to be very similar to one in the Church of St. Fiacre, Le Faouet Brittany, and may have been made by  immigrant Breton master craftsmen.  ( The only other similar screens in the UK are in the nearby parish churches of Colebrooke and Coldridge,   (Source: Devon SMR, Devon C19 Church Project)

The registers date from: baptisms, 1695; marriages, 1697; burials, 1694.


Copyright Churchcare <a href="https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1106600" rel="noreferrer nofollow">historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1106600</a>
brushford church devon