Bickington Devon
Church of St Mary the Virgin, Bickington Devon
Standing near to the fast main road from Plymouth to Exeter, it is sadly kept locked to protect it from thieves who find a quick get-away with stolen property down the valley.
It consists of nave, chancel, north aisle, west tower and south porch; vestry at east end of north aisle and boiler house at west end.
The present building was begun in 15c with north aisle added in early 16c . However the tower is earlier than this. 
14c windows have been reused from the previous church in the tower and nave &amp; chancel south walls. .

All thoroughly restored in 1883-4 when the south wall, south porch, and east and west gables of north aisle were rebuilt. The architects being Ewan Christian of London for the chancel and Robert Medley Fulford of Exeter for the remainder using Devonian limestone, with granite detail for the medieval work and Ham Hill stone for the added 1883-4 detail.

The tapered 2-stage tower has a five -sided stair turret with slit windows on the south.   It is finished with a stringcourse and crenellated parapet; pinnacle on each corner renewed in 1883-4. 

Inside on the north wall of north aisle is a painted red and black panel flanked with C-scrolls, probably of late C17 or early C18,  inscribed:&quot;How amiable are thy tabernacles, 0 Lord of hosts. My soul longeth yea even fainteth for the courts of the Lord. My heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God. Psalm 84.1.2&quot;
The nave, chancel and north aisle have wagon roofs of
probably early 16c , much restored in 1883-4; <a href="https://www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/0N9xEnK1X2">www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/0N9xEnK1X2</a> 
The chancel roof is said to have been wholly rebuilt.   The roofs have moulded ribs with carved bosses at
the intersections. Nave and chancel have cornices of intertwined vine leaves, against which are set angels, holding shields, one at the foot of each arch-brace.   In the chancel the angels' wings are unfurled, while at the west end of the nave one angel on each side seems to be on the point of unfurling his wings.   The north aisle has part of a similar cornice at the west end, but without angels.

The octagonal granite font is probably late 15c / early 16c with plain plinth, shaft and bowl, -topped with a 17c wooden cover , sides carved with fruit, serpents and winged cherub-heads; this was restored in 1883-4 by Harry Hems of Exeter who also carved the chancel stalls, altar table, lectern and credence table.  The stalls incorporate 6 old linenfold panels. 

Monuments: on east wall of chancel, to right of window, a stone tablet of 1689, surrounded by C-scrolls and with a coat-of-arms on top; traces of red, black and gold paint. 
There are several good 17c tomb slabs on floor of chancel and north aisle.


Picture with thanks - copyright <a href="https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/8843/" rel="noreferrer nofollow">www.achurchnearyou.com/church/8843/</a>
bickington church devon