Clyst St Lawrence, Devon
Church of St Lawrence, Clyst St Lawrence Devon, probably Norman in origin thought to be founded in 1203 , but all rebuilt in the 15c.   It is one of a few churches named after the River Clyst nearby 
A small church, it consists of a nave with north porch, a narrower and lower chancel and tall three stage west tower which has on the north side a semi-hexagonal embattled stair turret lit by small quatrefoil lights, which rises above the tower parapet and is topped by a wrought iron weather vane.  
On the stair turret looking down onto the porch is an image niche with a crocketted canopy under which stands the lovely statue of the BVM &amp; Child possibly surviving from the 15c.  <a href="https://www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/q5785g80R0">www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/q5785g80R0</a>  
At the top are grotesque gargoyles. <a href="https://www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/2y1z1RM097">www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/2y1z1RM097</a>

Inside the nave has a good ceiled wagon roof with moulded ribs with carved oak bosses <a href="https://devonchurchland.co.uk/galleries/clyst-st-lawrence-church-of-st-lawrence-gallery/#gallery/77ea2a15f86aa7efa9e57d3579318eb9/5540" rel="noreferrer nofollow">devonchurchland.co.uk/galleries/clyst-st-lawrence-church-...</a>  The chancel roof is a plain plaster vault of uncertain date. 
The floor is tiled and includes some 17c &amp; 18c grave slabs.
The 19c altar table is flanked by probably 18c newly-headed painted commandment boards. 
The oak gothic stalls are 19c . 
There is a 15c screen of five bays across the chancel <a href="https://www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/w6P10M6NxA">www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/w6P10M6NxA</a> which retains its ancient colour and gilding, <a href="https://devonchurchland.co.uk/galleries/clyst-st-lawrence-church-of-st-lawrence-gallery/#gallery/77ea2a15f86aa7efa9e57d3579318eb9/5534" rel="noreferrer nofollow">devonchurchland.co.uk/galleries/clyst-st-lawrence-church-...</a> <a href="https://devonchurchland.co.uk/galleries/clyst-st-lawrence-church-of-st-lawrence-gallery/#gallery/77ea2a15f86aa7efa9e57d3579318eb9/5532" rel="noreferrer nofollow">devonchurchland.co.uk/galleries/clyst-st-lawrence-church-...</a> but the tracery has all been removed from the bays and the ancient cresting has been replaced by a plain wooden one;.
On each side of the tower arch are carved grotesque heads   showing the Green Man and other men grimacing with their tongues out.  <a href="https://devonchurchland.co.uk/galleries/clyst-st-lawrence-church-of-st-lawrence-gallery/#gallery/77ea2a15f86aa7efa9e57d3579318eb9/5546" rel="noreferrer nofollow">devonchurchland.co.uk/galleries/clyst-st-lawrence-church-...</a> . 
The Royal Arms are preserved beneath the tower.

The  unornamental girdled c1203 Norman font is made from a single block of volcanic stone, topped with a 17c oak cover.

The registers date: baptisms, 1539; marriages, 1540; burials, 1541.

The old 15c preaching cross survives in the churchyard which once had a canopied saint on top <a href="https://www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/vbF8ki88nD">www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/vbF8ki88nD</a>


Picture with thanks - copyright John P Reeves CCL <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/7373605" rel="noreferrer nofollow">www.geograph.org.uk/photo/7373605</a>
clyst st lawrence clyststlawrence church devon