Bradworthy Devon
Church of St John the Baptist, Bradworthy Devon built of random rubble local stone.  It was originally dedicated to St. Peter. +++ 
Before the Conquest the manor was held by Tovi.  At the time of 1086 Domesday Survey, it had passed to Ralph de Pomeroy.    Ralph sold it in 1198 to William,  Lord Brewer in whose family it passed, by successive female heirs, to Mohun, Strange, and Stanley, Earl of Derby:  William Bruer was one of the most powerful nobleman of his day and was a favourite of 4 successive monarchs - Henry ll, Richard, John and Henry lll.  On King Richard's going to the Holy land, he was, with the bishops of Durham and Ely, and Hugh Bardulph, appointed to the government of the realm.   King John granted him many manors, and Henry lll made him sheriff over 12 counties.  He founded the abbeys of Tor and Dunkeswell.  
King John granted a fair to be held here on St John's Day. 
William, Lord Brewer in 1198 gave the church to Torre Abbey whose Canons served here for a short time - later in 1240 Bishop Brewer (Lord Brewer's nephew) made the living a Vicarage.   The first vicar firmly recorded is John Battyn, instituted in 1328, although R. de Bosco is mentioned earlier as a vicar.

Originally a small late Norman building, it was enlarged in the 13c in the Early English cruciform pattern, with a shallow north transept where the manoral pew known as the Berridon pew of the Griffin family was later situated, west tower and north &amp; south porches. 
The south transept roof is higher than the nave with offsets on tower indicating the pitch of the earlier nave roofline,
After severe damage by lightning in 1395, a rebuilding was completed by the year 1400, with an enlarged chancel, mainly in the Perpendicular style as we see it today.
The fine crenellated and unbuttressed 3-stage tower was added c 1500.

The Norman 12c square topped font survives <a href="https://www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/qLP90vWz5H">www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/qLP90vWz5H</a>

On the south side of the chancel is a piscina with drain and pointed arch, on each side there is a smaller recess probably used for the cruets. The 18c / 19sc baluster communion rails , possibly reused.   In front of the communion rails are a large number of old Barnstaple encaustic tiles with designs of the rose, lion, pelican, etc., these tiles also extend down the chancel aisle, and are placed on the sides of the nave aisle.   <a href="https://www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/04a3dsjT41">www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/04a3dsjT41</a>

Over the south door are the arms of George lll
The organ is at the west end of the church, rather blocking out the light from the west window. 
c1700 Octagonal pulpit with carved frieze of winged putti and acanthus volutes, and a dado of bay leaves, turned balusters where originally there were panels <a href="https://www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/19Y753XXSX">www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/19Y753XXSX</a>

The registers date: baptisms, 1596; marriages, 1558; burials, 1558.

Arthur Mee says there is a curious gap in the list of vicars in the 17c when it would seem that a Mr Lang &quot;neither died nor resigned.&quot;  He adds &quot;it is a pity he is there at all as he was a forger and a threatener who went to prison for his misdeeds&quot; 

After it was gutted by fire, the church was restored in the 18c.  Restored &amp; reroofed in  1883-4 with new south porch 
Restored again and reseated in 1840
Restored and reroofed 1883-4, tower restored 1897. 

+++ Nearby is St Peter's Well <a href="https://www.megalithic.co.uk/modules.php?op=modload&amp;name=a312&amp;file=index&amp;do=showpic&amp;pid=172736" rel="noreferrer nofollow">www.megalithic.co.uk/modules.php?op=modload&amp;name=a312...</a>  used as a water supply in the past.  which was renovated for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in 2012 by local resident Les Tanner, with help from Sean Heard.

Picture with thanks - copyright Janice Dennis <a href="https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/2367929/bradworthy-cemetery#view-photo=213372810" rel="noreferrer nofollow">www.findagrave.com/cemetery/2367929/bradworthy-cemetery#v...</a>
bradworthy church devon