Chudleigh Knighton, Devon
Church of St Paul, Chudleigh Knighton Devon stands in the centre of this little village, with the school opposite
The land for the church was consecrated in 1841 and the building consecrated in 1849.   It was a Chapel of Ease for the parishioners who previously would have had to have walked the three miles to Hennock. At that time it was known as Knighton Chapel.
The architectural style of this early Victorian Church is of Early English. The architect is believed to have been George Gilbert Scott, the grandfather of Giles Gilbert Scott architect of Liverpool Cathedral.   The interior of the chapel was decorated and fitted by Revd. John Medley in 1846.
The exterior of St. Paul's is of Plymouth limestone and Haldon flint, placed with the rounded side facing outwards, which gives it a knobbled effect. Flint churches of Norfolk have the knapped side to the exterior. As far as is known St. Paul's is the only flint church in Devon.
On the roof-ridge east to west are Staffordshire blue roll ridge tiles. These were reserved from Chudleigh railway station at the time of its demolition, by Mr Colin Walker, a member of St Paul's PCC.   He had been clerk of works at Canterbury Cathedral. 
The Church gateposts became the War Memorial for those who fell in the First World War, forming an arched entrance to the Church grounds.  <a href="https://www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/45r2p7rWuk">www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/45r2p7rWuk</a>
By an Order of the Queen in Council bearing the date February 26th 1880, a District or Ecclesiastical Parish has been assigned to the Church of St. Paul, Chudleigh Knighton. The first Incumbent of the Chapelry of St. Paul (consolidated 28th February, 1880 from the three parishes of Hennock, Kingsteignton, and Bovey Tracey) was Rev. Remorden Sandilands. The window above the door in the south transept is a memorial to him and has a brass tablet below.
The second Incumbent was Revd. F.G Riley of Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge who was inducted an 7th April 1891.

A Faculty for the re-seating and alteration of the interior was granted in 1876. The Incorporated Society for building Churches made a grant in 1878, on condition that 220 seats be free and 43 seats rented. It was possibly at this time that the gallery was added to provide the extra seating,

The single bell in the west turret 
 <a href="https://www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/0gG35yq5Ga">www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/0gG35yq5Ga</a> was given by Katherine Fellows in June 1956 as a memorial to her brothers. At 23 inches in diameter it was cast by John Taylor &amp; Co. of Loughborough at a cost of £130.

A Faculty for a further re-arrangement was granted in March 1961 to replace the east window  and remove the organ from the north transept into the gallery and enclose the choir vestry, early in the incumbency of Rev. Edward Powell Price. Originally the vestry was behind the organ in the north transept and the present vestry was the choir vestry.

The east window glass was moved to the north transept to allow for the new east window, which had been designed by Harry Stammers, in memory of Hugh and Hilda Yeoman of Pitt House in the parish ,  and dedicated on 12th November 1961. The north and south chancel windows are in memory of Mr &amp; Mrs Chichester, of Stokelake - Caroline Chichester to the north of the altar and Arthur Chichester to the south.

Memorial tablets testify that the lives of 18 men were taken from this small village during the 1914-18 War. A further tablet commemorates three members of the Gibb Family who were killed in an air raid on Plymouth on 19th April 1941. <a href="https://www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/agS00H93f7">www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/agS00H93f7</a>

In August 2023 Fundraising efforts were underway to help save the building  after the roof was found to be in urgent need of repair work   Total repairs are expected to exceed £100,000, with the most urgent costing at least £17,000. 
A spokesperson for the parish said: ‘As the PCC does not have funds to undertake any of this work, it has launched a fundraising appeal and will be holding a series of events over the next few months. Please help by supporting these events and donating to the appeal.’
<a href="https://www.middevonadvertiser.co.uk/news/support-desperately-needed-to-repair-chudleigh-knighton-church-roof-631215" rel="noreferrer nofollow">www.middevonadvertiser.co.uk/news/support-desperately-nee...</a>

A  friendly and active church, there are weekly 9.15am services alternating between Holy Communion and All Age worship with traditional and modern hymns accompanied by an organ. The church site says &quot;There’s no charge, you don’t need to be a Christian already, and you can wear what you like.  We hope to see you soon!&quot;

Picture with thanks - copyright Ian <a href="http://www.cornishchurches.com/Chudleigh Knighton Church Devon - St. Paul/index.htm" rel="noreferrer nofollow">www.cornishchurches.com/Chudleigh%20Knighton%20Church%20D...</a>
chudleigh knighton church devon