Churchstow Devon
Church of St Mary the Virgin, Churchstow Devon  - the village name derives from an earlier building which was built on the apex of a high ridge, the place thereafter being known as &quot;church-stow.&quot; &quot;Stow&quot; meaning a &quot;holy place&quot; in Saxon.
The present church was built from dark local slate stone with granite dressings in the late 14c / early 15c with a continuous nave &amp; chancel,  south aisle &amp; chantry chapel to the east wall of the chancel, added in early 16c, its granite pillars slightly leaning southwards,  north transept &amp; vestry,  massive  two-storey porch &amp; three stage tower with a  central octagonal stair turret on south face rising to battlement above 

The 19c pulpit on a flared base, incorporates some 15c panels. 
The font has a square bowl with some arca ding, possibly 12c on Victorian base.  <a href="https://www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/6r6YwD2144">www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/6r6YwD2144</a>

There is a small painted panel with coat of arms is to John Petters Esq died 1715 &quot;Coustemer of Devon&quot;, who gave 20 shillings yearly to the poor in his will  <a href="https://www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/v96Q0782p3">www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/v96Q0782p3</a>

Opposite , as with many churches, is an old historic Inn believed to date from the 13c, aptly named the Church House, which like the church, once belonged to the Benedictine monks of Buckfast Abbey  <a href="https://www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/7MGzYVpxo2">www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/7MGzYVpxo2</a>
Originally a rest house for the monks and later used to house masons rebuilding the late 14c / 15c church opposite
It was later the original parish hall, an eating place, ale house for the legal consumption of ale brewed by the church wardens, somewhere to go to get warm before or after a church service, and a place to hold religious feasts.

Picture with thanks - copyright Derek Harper CCL <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/187964" rel="noreferrer nofollow">www.geograph.org.uk/photo/187964</a>
churchstow church devon