St Andrew's Church, South Huish
Encyclopedia
St Andrew's Church, South Huish, is a ruined church in South Huish, South Hams
, Devon
, England . It has been designated by English Heritage
as a Grade II* listed building, and is under the care of the Friends of Friendless Churches
.
and chancel
were built in the 13th century. The west tower, and possibly the north transept
, were probably added in the early 15th century. Minor alterations to the south door and insertion of the east window to the chancel occurred in the late 15th or early 16th century, but immediately after this, major work to the south side of the church was carried out. This comprised an integral porch and south aisle, probably built between c.1520 and 1540. This included insertion of a carved and painted oak rood screen dividing the Nave from the Chancel and the South Aisle from the Lady Chapel. A parclose screen was provided between this and the Chancel, while a Hagioscope or Squint was cut into the north wall of the Chancel to enable worshippers in the North Transept to view the celebration of mass in the Chancel. In 1553, four bells were recorded, at least two of which had probably been there since the 15th century when the tower was built, with the number being made up to four, probably in the early-mid 16th century when the tower was heightened. This number had increased to six by the early 19th century. However by 1866, the condition of the church had deteriorated, perhaps due to population movement away from South Huish to Galmpton, about half a mile to the north, and the old church was considered to be beyond repair. A new church was built in the nearby village of Galmpton
to replace it. The bells and font
were moved to the new church and St Andrew's was abandoned. Also removed to Galmpton were the broken remains of two 15th-century alabaster
reredos
es depicting scenes from the life of Christ. Before this time, the stoup
has been removed to Salcombe
parish church
. The other fittings were sold. The late medieval
screen was removed to Bowringsleigh House in West Alvington
. The south aisle arcade
went to the church at Dodbrooke. The bench ends were acquired by the Earl of Devon
, and it is thought that they were installed in the chapel at Powderham Castle
.
on its western face. On the north wall of the nave is the frame of a lancet window
; there are two similar window frames in the chancel. The interior of the church has been stripped of almost all its former features, but in an archaeological survey of 2005, undertaken by Robert Waterhouse BA; MIfA, three image brackets were identified in the porch, Nave and Lady Chapel .
in the charity
the Friends of Friendless Churches. The charity holds a 999 year lease
with effect from 1 January 1976. Soon after vesting, the top 8 feet (2 m) of the tower was removed. In 1988 one of the granite
windows was reconstructed from fallen stones on the site. Work has been undertaken to slow down the decay of the remaining structure. An annual service continues to be held at the site.
South Hams
South Hams is a local government district on the south coast of Devon, England with its headquarters in the town of Totnes. It contains the towns of Dartmouth, Kingsbridge, Ivybridge, Salcombe — the largest of which is Ivybridge with a population of 16,056....
, Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
, England . It has been designated by English Heritage
English Heritage
English Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
as a Grade II* listed building, and is under the care of the Friends of Friendless Churches
Friends of Friendless Churches
Friends of Friendless Churches is a registered charity active in England and Wales. It campaigns for and rescues redundant historic churches threatened by demolition, decay, or inappropriate conversion. To that end, as of August 2010, it owns 43 former churches or chapels, 23 of which...
.
Early history
The naveNave
In Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar, the main body of the church. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...
and chancel
Chancel
In church architecture, the chancel is the space around the altar in the sanctuary at the liturgical east end of a traditional Christian church building...
were built in the 13th century. The west tower, and possibly the north transept
Transept
For the periodical go to The Transept.A transept is a transverse section, of any building, which lies across the main body of the building. In Christian churches, a transept is an area set crosswise to the nave in a cruciform building in Romanesque and Gothic Christian church architecture...
, were probably added in the early 15th century. Minor alterations to the south door and insertion of the east window to the chancel occurred in the late 15th or early 16th century, but immediately after this, major work to the south side of the church was carried out. This comprised an integral porch and south aisle, probably built between c.1520 and 1540. This included insertion of a carved and painted oak rood screen dividing the Nave from the Chancel and the South Aisle from the Lady Chapel. A parclose screen was provided between this and the Chancel, while a Hagioscope or Squint was cut into the north wall of the Chancel to enable worshippers in the North Transept to view the celebration of mass in the Chancel. In 1553, four bells were recorded, at least two of which had probably been there since the 15th century when the tower was built, with the number being made up to four, probably in the early-mid 16th century when the tower was heightened. This number had increased to six by the early 19th century. However by 1866, the condition of the church had deteriorated, perhaps due to population movement away from South Huish to Galmpton, about half a mile to the north, and the old church was considered to be beyond repair. A new church was built in the nearby village of Galmpton
Galmpton, Torbay
Galmpton is a village in Torbay, Devon, England. It is located west of Brixham in the historic civil parish of Churston Ferrers and is the home of Galmpton United F.C.. Greenway Estate, a Grade II* listed house and garden acquired by the National Trust in 1999, is nearby. The Paignton and...
to replace it. The bells and font
Baptismal font
A baptismal font is an article of church furniture or a fixture used for the baptism of children and adults.-Aspersion and affusion fonts:...
were moved to the new church and St Andrew's was abandoned. Also removed to Galmpton were the broken remains of two 15th-century alabaster
Alabaster
Alabaster is a name applied to varieties of two distinct minerals, when used as a material: gypsum and calcite . The former is the alabaster of the present day; generally, the latter is the alabaster of the ancients...
reredos
Reredos
thumb|300px|right|An altar and reredos from [[St. Josaphat's Roman Catholic Church|St. Josaphat Catholic Church]] in [[Detroit]], [[Michigan]]. This would be called a [[retable]] in many other languages and countries....
es depicting scenes from the life of Christ. Before this time, the stoup
Holy water font
A holy water font or stoup is a vessel containing holy water generally placed near the entrance of a church. It is used in Catholic Church and Lutheran churches, as well as some Anglican churches to make the Sign of the Cross using the holy water upon entrance and exit...
has been removed to Salcombe
Salcombe
Salcombe is a town in the South Hams district of Devon, south west England. The town is close to the mouth of the Kingsbridge Estuary, built mostly on the steep west side of the estuary and lies within the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty...
parish church
Parish church
A parish church , in Christianity, is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish, the basic administrative unit of episcopal churches....
. The other fittings were sold. The late medieval
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
screen was removed to Bowringsleigh House in West Alvington
West Alvington
West Alvington is a small village, located on the outskirts of Kingsbridge in South Devon.It has a Primary School, and is about a 10 minute walk from the centre of Kingsbridge....
. The south aisle arcade
Arcade (architecture)
An arcade is a succession of arches, each counterthrusting the next, supported by columns or piers or a covered walk enclosed by a line of such arches on one or both sides. In warmer or wet climates, exterior arcades provide shelter for pedestrians....
went to the church at Dodbrooke. The bench ends were acquired by the Earl of Devon
Earl of Devon
The title of Earl of Devon was created several times in the Peerage of England, and was possessed first by the de Redvers family, and later by the Courtenays...
, and it is thought that they were installed in the chapel at Powderham Castle
Powderham Castle
Powderham Castle is located south of Exeter, Devon, England. The Powderham Estate, in which it is set, runs down to the western shores of the estuary of the River Exe between the villages of Kenton and Starcross....
.
Architecture
The church is built in slatestone. It is now without a roof, but the walls, other than those of the transept, are largely intact. The ruins include a blocked west doorway, above which is a damaged Perpendicular window, and a round-headed south porch. The porch dates from the early-mid 16th century, and contains stone benches along its sides, and a flueFlue
A flue is a duct, pipe, or chimney for conveying exhaust gases from a fireplace, furnace, water heater, boiler, or generator to the outdoors. In the United States, they are also known as vents and for boilers as breeching for water heaters and modern furnaces...
on its western face. On the north wall of the nave is the frame of a lancet window
Lancet window
A lancet window is a tall narrow window with a pointed arch at its top. It acquired the "lancet" name from its resemblance to a lance. Instances of this architectural motif are most often found in Gothic and ecclesiastical structures, where they are often placed singly or in pairs.The motif first...
; there are two similar window frames in the chancel. The interior of the church has been stripped of almost all its former features, but in an archaeological survey of 2005, undertaken by Robert Waterhouse BA; MIfA, three image brackets were identified in the porch, Nave and Lady Chapel .
Recent history
In 1976 the ruins were vestedVesting
In law, vesting is to give an immediately secured right of present or future enjoyment. One has a vested right to an asset that cannot be taken away by any third party, even though one may not yet possess the asset. When the right, interest or title to the present or future possession of a legal...
in the charity
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
the Friends of Friendless Churches. The charity holds a 999 year lease
Leasehold estate
A leasehold estate is an ownership of a temporary right to land or property in which a lessee or a tenant holds rights of real property by some form of title from a lessor or landlord....
with effect from 1 January 1976. Soon after vesting, the top 8 feet (2 m) of the tower was removed. In 1988 one of the granite
Granite
Granite is a common and widely occurring type of intrusive, felsic, igneous rock. Granite usually has a medium- to coarse-grained texture. Occasionally some individual crystals are larger than the groundmass, in which case the texture is known as porphyritic. A granitic rock with a porphyritic...
windows was reconstructed from fallen stones on the site. Work has been undertaken to slow down the decay of the remaining structure. An annual service continues to be held at the site.