Church of St Swithin
CHURCH OF ST SWITHIN, VILLAGE CENTRE
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II*
- List Entry Number:
- 1164560
- Date first listed:
- 14-Feb-1958
- List Entry Name:
- Church of St Swithin
- Statutory Address:
- CHURCH OF ST SWITHIN, VILLAGE CENTRE
Location
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Images of England Project
- Date:
- 2004-10-31
- Reference:
- IOE01/13556/07
- Rights:
- © Mr Brett Adams. Source: Historic England Archive
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II*
- List Entry Number:
- 1164560
- Date first listed:
- 14-Feb-1958
- List Entry Name:
- Church of St Swithin
- Statutory Address 1:
- CHURCH OF ST SWITHIN, VILLAGE CENTRE
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
Location
- Statutory Address:
- CHURCH OF ST SWITHIN, VILLAGE CENTRE
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- County:
- Devon
- District:
- Torridge (District Authority)
- Parish:
- Pyworthy
- National Grid Reference:
- SS 31292 02881
Details
SS30SW PYWORTHY CP VILLAGE CENTRE
13/60 Church of St Swithin
14.2.58
GV II*
Anglican parish church. Pre-Conquest foundation, early C14 alterations to chancel, north and south aisles built with clerestorey, south aisle refenestrated C15 and tower added c1400, north aisle refenestrated early C16, extensive restoration of 1885 including reroofing, reseating, reflooring and many windows renewed by R. Medley Fulford of Exeter. Random rubble local stone, Hatherleigh stone dressings, slate roofs, coped verges, decorative ridge tiles. Three bay chancel, 4-bay nave with north and south aisles and clerestorey, west tower, south porch. 4-stage tower with angle buttresses to second stage, no parapet, small, plain pyramid finials, 2-light louvred bell openings, clock, stairlight on south front, 2-light window above C19 trefoil-headed doorway approached by external flight of stairs in south-east corner, no west door or west window. Buttressed south aisle: C19 3-light windows west gable end and to west of single storey porch, bevelled arched opening, barrel vault roof with enriched ribs restored and dated 1885, pointed arch opening,also bevelled to south aisle with C19 door with decorative ironwork; uncusped 3-light windows to left of porch, C19 3-light window east gable end, south wall of chancel C19 priest's door beside remains of blocked window opening, two C19 2-light windows, C19 4-light East window, slate tablet to Samuel Parsons died 1791 with good lettering, north wall three 2-light windows, east gable end of north aisle 3-light window, north wall three 3-light mullioned windows under square hoodmoulds, pointed arch doorway between first and second bays west, C19 rose window west gable end. Interior: rendered. Chancel arch chamfered in 2 orders and dying into imposts, double chamfered pointed arch openings to arcades with octagonal piers, clerestorey with depressed pointed arch openings, tower arch depressed pointed arch openings. Rood stair depressed segmental opening with square-headed roof loft opening above. Early C14 piscina and sedilia in chancel extensively restored in C19. Roofs: chancel and nave C19 ceiled wagon roof with enriched beams and bosses, chancel roof with angels on wallplate; open wagon roofs in aisles with remains of original enriched beams and bosses. C19 fittings including internal porch. Norman octagonal granite font on C19 base. The church was dedicated byBishop Grandisson of Exeter in 1334. (White's Devonshire, 1878; Kelly's Directory, 1910; J.M.Slader, The Churches of Devon, 1968)
Listing NGR: SS3129202881
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 91967
- Legacy System:
- LBS
Sources
Books and journals
Slader, J M, The Churches of Devon, (1968)
Kelly's Directory in Kelly's Directory, (1910)
Whites Directory in History Gazetteer and Directory of Devonshire, (1878)
Legal
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
Map
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 04-Jun-2026 at 06:05:49.
Download a full scale map (PDF)© Crown copyright [and database rights] 2026. OS AC0000815036. All rights reserved. Ordnance Survey Licence number 100024900.© British Crown and SeaZone Solutions Limited 2026. All rights reserved. Licence number 102006.006.
End of official list entry