Branscombe Devon
Church of St Winifred, Branscombe Devon is exceptional for a small coastal villages and is one of the best churches in Devon, possibly because it was owned by the monks of Exeter Cathedral, and several bishops must have taken a personal interest in funding architectural improvements of the medieval period.
The dedication is unusual. Winifred was a fairly unknown 7c Welsh saint in the pre-Norman period.   However she was the niece of St Bueno who , according to legend, preached at Branscombe 
It is built on a levelled area that cannot be seen from the coast. This choice of location may have been for protection of the original Saxon church of c995 from Viking raiders. The church may have been placed on an earlier pre-Christian holy site as Saxon masonry survives in the base of the turret staircase.  Records of vicars, however,  only go back to the 13c.
The name Branscombe may have been derived from St Brannoc and records suggest that the church held the saints  arm as a relic before it was taken to Milton Abbey in Dorset in AD 933 on the orders of King Athelstan.  
The present building is late Norman dating from c1133 - 1150 and originally consisted of a small chancel, squat central tower and the eastern half of the nave.  
In the 13c the church was enlarged by Walter de Branscombe, born at Edge in the parish, who became Bishop of Exeter (1258 - 1280), and was a renowned church builder.  He added  the transepts, thus making the church cruciform , lengthened the nave to its present dimension and also added the south porch.  
The 14c saw the enlargement of the chancel.   Its fine waggon roof still contains much of the original roof timber.  its 14c piscina and sedilia on the south wall <a href="https://www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/1J6U310S13">www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/1J6U310S13</a> were discovered in 1911 having been blocked up c 1550 when the church suffered much wanton damage.  The shuttered openings under the windows were to allow sick and old parishioners to hear the ringing of the Sanctus bell at the elevation of the Host.  <a href="https://www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/ie11d08j2i">www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/ie11d08j2i</a>
The east window is 15c and was inserted by Bishop Neville (1458 - 1464) whose arms are to be seen on the exterior hood moulding.  
On the north nave wall in front of the west balcony is a mid 15c painting  showing the devil is shown thrusting a spear through the bodies of a man and woman representing the condemnation of lust.  <a href="https://www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/66m30b573y">www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/66m30b573y</a> The other 6 deadly sins were probably here also, but sadly no trace now remains. 
c1580 - 1590, the Elizabethan west gallery <a href="https://www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/a4uYq6GGf3">www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/a4uYq6GGf3</a> was given to the church, possibly by the Wadham family of Edge.  Access to it is by an exterior staircase.  <a href="https://www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/391T348J22">www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/391T348J22</a>
In the north transept is the monument of Joan Tregarthin 1583, mother of the founder of Wadham College, Oxford, and her two husbands, John Kellaway and John Wadham.  <a href="https://www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/81y53vq54x">www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/81y53vq54x</a>
The altar rails enclosing the altar on 4 sides are c 1665, <a href="https://www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/3cY3a0W15s">www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/3cY3a0W15s</a> as is the light oak screen standing on the base of a  stone one destroyed c 1550 at the entrance to the chancel  <a href="https://www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/86j71yP2SL">www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/86j71yP2SL</a>

There are 6 bells in the tower,  the oldest dating from 1635.

The three decker pulpit was placed c 1790 .  The adjacent box pews in the north transept have been preserved to show the seating that filled the church at that time.  <a href="https://www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/89DCc437F5">www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/89DCc437F5</a>

For many years the church was in a neglected and dilapidated state, but by the praiseworthy efforts vicar Rev. Arthur Steele King, it was &quot;judiciously restored and renovated&quot; at a cost of £3000 and was reopened by Archibald , Lord Bishop of Exeter on May 10th 1912 <a href="https://www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/g3wr5Kz40D">www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/g3wr5Kz40D</a>

In the churchyard a grave inscribed: &quot;Here lieth the body of Joseph Braddick of this parish who died the 27th day of June 1673 in the 40th year of his age.
Strong and at labour suddenly he reels.  Death came behind him and stroke up his heels.  Such sudden stroke surviving mortals bid ye stand on your watch and to be always ready.&quot;

The registers date: baptisms, 1539; marriages, 1545; burials, 1578.

The Church is floodlit in memory of people whose families make a donation for a particular week.
The Friends of St Winifred’s is an independent charity which has over 200 members who have raised significant sums for the church fabric for nearly 20 years. 

Picture with thanks - copyright Philip Pankhurst CCL <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4111702" rel="noreferrer nofollow">www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4111702</a>
branscombe church devon