Weight: 336 lbs Diameter: 24.75" Bell 1 of 2
Founded by Gillett & Johnston 1938
Dove Bell ID: 50203 Tower ID: 17801 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Abbotsbury: St Mary the Virgin
Diocese of Exeter
Church, 615305
http://www.newtonabbotparishes.co.uk/Overview
Grid reference: SX 857 715
Designed by E H Sedding 1904-6 in Free Perpendicular Gothic style. Envisaged south-west tower and sculptural embellishments not completed. Interior reordered in 1990s with insertion of a narthex area at the west end.
Visiting and facilities
Building is open for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
Cruciform plan. Lean-to west porch. Broad 6-bay nave with clerestory (2 western bays form narthex with WCs, kitchen and office to north, meeting room to south) and narrow north and south aisle passages. Chancel with north organ chamber. South transept with Lady Chapel. Clergy vestry in south-east corner and choir vestry in north-east corner, linked by an ambulatory. Boiler room beneath south-east corner.
Footprint of Church buildings: 873 m²
Description of Archaeology and History
Newton Abbot was founded by the abbots of Torre Abbey from where its name is derived. There was a market by 1246. Little survives of the medieval town following rapid expansion in the C19th and unsympathetic modern development. There is archaeological evidence of C15th houses and workshops to the south-west of the site.
The site where the church was built was once partly occupied by Abbotsbury House which was demolished to make way for its construction. Its former outbuildings spread to the north-east. Also since redeveloped.
Devon and Dartmoor have a detailed HER which should be referred to ahead of any development work at the site.
No burials on the site and low archaeological potential.
Designed by Edmund Harold Sedding (1863-1921) in 1904-6, nephew of John Dando Sedding. A £100 grant from the Incorporated Church Buildings Society was awarded in 1906 towards 570 free sittings. An inscribed memorial stone to him is set within the east wall of the nave. The church was not completed to his original vision, missing a south-west tower with steeple and additional sculptural embellishment.
C15th window tracery from St Mary’s Chapel on Highweek street was reset in the east wall. Also known as Newton Bushel chapel of ease, the building dates to the C15th and was enlarged in 1826. It seems the chapel became disused following the construction of the new church, having been unable to expand itself due to a restricted site. It is Grade II listed and has since been converted to St Mary’s Court sheltered housing.
The interior of St Mary’s Abbotsbury was reordered with a narthex/hall area inserted at the west end, and pews removed, in the 1990s. Arches, and the use of a Baptistery space, at the west end were also removed.
Exterior Description
A monumental building that was never completed to the architect’s original vision with a south-west tower.
At the west end, a lean-to porch has doorways to north and south (not used), and modern glazed doors to the west. Niches in the stone work on the west ends of the aisles were intended to contain figures. Buttresses and octagonal stone turrets to either side. Metal hopper heads display the date 1905.
To north and south sides, flying buttresses define each bay with lean-to aisles at ground level, pierced by 3-light windows, and a clerestory above with 2-light windows. Towards the east end, gabled transept roofs branch away from the pitched nave roof to north and south. The north and south elevations of the transepts contain 4-light windows with perpendicular tracery. Above each buttress, within the lower slopes of the nave roof, are truncated octagonal stone plinths that were intended to support pinnacles – never completed.
The chancel is contained within the same roof space as the nave, though it is defined differently inside. At the east end lean-to roofs cover a rectangular extension containing the vestries to north and south sides, linked by an ambulatory. The chancel has tall 2-light windows to north and south, and in the east wall a 3-light windows positioned between two 2-light windows.
Due to a change in ground level, doors in the vestry and ambulatory, as well as south transept, have stairs rising up to them. A small wooden bellcote is fixed to the east side of the north transept and contains a single bell. A boiler room is beneath the south-east corner.
Building Fabric and Features
Cruciform Plan
20th century
Porch
20th century lean-to west
Nave
20th century broad 6-bay
Clerestory
20th century
Narthex (classical)
20th century
Kitchen
20th century
Aisle
20th century narrow north and south passages
Chancel
20th century
Organ (component)
20th century chamber
Transept
20th century
Lady Chapel
20th century in the south transept
Vestry
20th century clergy vestry in south-east corner and choir vestry in north-east corner
Ambulatory (interior)
20th century links the two vestrys
Boiler Room
20th century beneath south east corner
Building Materials
Slate
20th century roof tiles
Clay
20th century ridge tiles
Limestone
20th century coursed rubble masonry
Bath Stone
20th century dressings
Wood
20th century block floors
Marble
20th century floors
Interior
Interior Description
The interior is accessed through doors at the west end, which enter into a porch with WCs to the north, before opening into the 1990s narthex. This is a large area occupying the western 2-bays of the nave, and is used as a church hall. It has an inserted ceiling and is partitioned from the nave by glazed wood screens. A kitchen and office is situated within the former north aisle area, and meeting rooms within the former south aisle area. The space above is accessed from a simple metal staircase in the north aisle of the nave and is used for storage.
Glazed doors open into the nave which has a level woodblock floor laid in herringbone formation. It is seated with upholstered wood chairs. The walls are of smooth, exposed stone. The large west window, designed by E H Sedding, has ornate tracery, chunky mullions, and circular patterns to the leading. The majority of the windows have clear glazing.
Each bay has a 2-light clerestory window recessed set back in a deep reveal. A continuous stone band punctuated with carved fleurons runs around the building beneath the clerestory level. The aisle arcades (formed of octagonal piers) are beneath, with an attached column between the spandrel of each arch rising to provide a corbel to the structure of the roof above, formed of a boarded barrel vault with moulded purlins and rafters. Each bay has an original4-light wrought-iron chandelier, with scrolled elements, fitted above the apex of each arch.
The narrow passage aisles are ceiled by boarded roofs and each bay is separated by a transverse arch. Within the north and south walls, each has a 3-light window. The north aisle has 3 stone steps at the east end leading upto the vestries, and at the west end, a staircase is behind a curtained wooden screen to access the area above the hall. The south aisle has a children’s play tent positioned at the west end and at the east end steps rise beneath a carved wood screen into the Lady Chapel.
At the east end of the nave, a modern, carpeted, 2-step dais rises to meet the original concave marble step of the chancel, beneath a high pointed chancel arch, which has across it an ornate carved screen. A huge carved pulpit stands to the north side, within the nave. The floor of the chancel is paved in marble. To north and south sides high quality, carved oak choir stalls are positioned on raised timber platforms.
An open timber screen with curtains behind, separates the north of the choir from vestries beyond, and organ pipes above. Beyond the stalls to the south side is an open timber screen leading through to the Lady Chapel. The east wall of the chapel is panelled to the east end with a central canopied section above the altar. There is a simple altar, altar rails, and simple oak benches. Cast-iron wall mounted radiators. A door in the south exits the church, whilst a door in the east accesses the clergy vestry.
The sanctuary floor rises by a step. The floor is paved in a geometric pattern with contrasting red and green marbles. The altar is raised by another 3 steps. Ornate wood panelling stretches across the east wall either side of the reredos with figures displayed in canopied niches. Small pointed doorways either side lead into the ambulatory space beyond. Above the altar the stained glass is set within elaborate curvilinear tracery, incorporating a star shape pattern found in other local churches [Pevsner]. The frames are surrounded by crocketed niches and badges of local families - the Yardes and Ferrers. Dated C15th and relocated from another church.
Fixtures and fittings
Altar
20th century Elaborate carved oak table against east wall, adorned with leaves and vines and with gilded 'IHS' in the centre, by the Pinwill sisters. Modern plain pine table above chancel steps c 1990s.
Pulpit
20th century Large, elaborately carved octagonal pulpit with attached stairs and tester. Central pillar and 8 supporting columns (each carved with a figure) support pulpit with carved shafts and alternate facets carved with figures in wreaths, or scenes within a square. The base is inscribed with a panel – in memory of Henry Clarke who died 1909. The connecting panel between the pulpit and tester is carved with a figure of Christ with an inscription beneath – remember William Henry Brock, 1931. By the Pinwill sisters?
Lectern
20th century • Brass eagle lectern on base. • Smaller wrought iron lectern, in keeping with the lights. Painted black, red and gold.
Font (component)
20th century Marble and stone font. Shallow bowl with traceried panels supported on central stone shaft with 4 marble outer columns, each with a carved angel above. Flat wood cover. Positioned to north side of nave, towards west end. Originally located at the west end within the original narthex / Baptistery, lost by insertion of hall.
Reredos
20th century Elaborate carved oak piece with central panel carved in relief depicting the Nativity, beneath an ornate cornice. Riddell posts with carved angels kneeling in prayer in front. Panelling with carved wooden figures in canopied niches, separated by coats of arms, to either side. Signed drawing of the design in the vestry.
Stall
20th century Oak choir stalls with carved frontals, inscribed on both sides. In memory of Mabel Eleanor Easton d.1921. Linen fold panelling alternating with floriated decoration. Carved angels on either end of the middle row. Matching readers’ desks.
Screen
20th century Elaborate 8-bay ornate carved oak chancel/rood screen by Sedding with perpendicular tracery, canopied niches. The panelled base is carved in relief with. Vine border to top.
Rail
20th century Alabaster, chunky. Oak gates added in someone's memory c 1930.
Organ (component)
20th century 3 manual organ, built in 1905 (builder not known) then rebuilt by Hele & Co in 1923 with further work in 1987.
Inscribed Object
20th century Inscribed stone in memory of Edmund Harold Sedding 1863-1921, architect of this building in 1906
Plaque (component)
20th century Wood plaque south aisle in remembrance of Walter Geake d.1924; Wood plaque on north wall – in remembrance of Leonard Stanley Back of H M Submarine M2 who died in service of his country 26.1.1932. Some other small plaques on various items of furniture.
Cross
20th century WWI field cross on south aisle wall – grave of an unknown soldier in France placed here in memory of their heroic dead.
Stained Glass
20th century • N – l - 3 light – depicting the Last Supper, gift, 1933. Attributed by Dr Moat to Christopher Charles Powell (1876-1955) of Highgate, London. Not a very distinguished artist; • N - r – 3 light – 3 scenes - with this Holy Oil I anoint you, Lift to the lord, the Prophet of the Highest, attributed by Dr Moat to Messrs James Powell & Sons of Whitefriars Glassworks, London - relocated; • E window – tracery relocated from St Mary’s Chapel, Highweek. Glass depicts figures in niches. 4-light central window, with 2-light windows either side. A drawing of the design hangs in the vestry, not signed. Attributed by Dr Moat to Messrs Clayton & Bell of London, a good late-ish set; • S – 3 light window in memory of someone who died 1919. Mary, Joseph and Christ depicted in carpenter’s shop. Attributed by Dr Moat to C C Powell, as above.
Bells
Weight: 700 lbs Diameter: 33.25" Bell 2 of 2
Founded by Mordecai Cockey 1686
Dove Bell ID: 50204 Tower ID: 17801 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Portable Furnishings and Artworks
Registers kept at Exeter Records Office.
Churchyard
Grid reference: SX 857 715
Burial and War Grave Information
It is unknown whether the building is consecrated.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has been used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard is used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has war graves.
National Heritage record for England designations
There are no records of National Heritage assets within the curtilage of this site.
Environment
Ancient, Veteran & Notable Trees
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
There are no records of Ancient, Veteran or Notable Trees within the curtilage of this site.
Renewables
| Renewable | Installed |
|---|---|
| Solar PV Panels | No |
| Solar Thermal Panels | No |
| Biomass | No |
| Wind Turbine | No |
| Air Source Heat Pump | No |
| Ground Source Heat Pump | No |
| Ev Charging | No |
Species summary
There are no records of species within the curtilage of this site.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
'Seek advice' Species
More information on species and action to be taken upon discovery.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
Further information
Sources
Showing 11 entries of 11 View All
Quinquennial Inspections
Submit a change
If you notice something incorrect or missing, please explain it in the form below and submit it to our team for review.