St Andrew, Wiveliscombe

St Andrew, Wiveliscombe, is initially a puzzle: windows with classic Perpendicular tracery, but a tall north porch that looks almost arts-and-crafts in its styling, and a tower which is clearly late Victorian. Inside, the feeling is more that of a large chapel, and gives away the fact the church was thoroughly rebuilt (and more than doubled in size) early in the 19th Century. 

The architect was Richard Carver, and the date 1829. But he reused some of the earlier windows, hence the confusing tracery. Both nave and aisles (the south has an outer aisle, now walled off with glass to form a cafe) are spacious, with arcades with four-centre arches, the nave filled with the original box pews of 1829. The aisles have largely been cleared of fixed seating, which lends a rather empty feel when the chairs are stacked (as they were, on my visit, all over the place). No date is known for the tower.

Carver's chancel was replaced in 1872 by a short polygonal apse by Giles & Gane, but the rose window - with Pevsner describes as "singularly uncongenial and unattractive" dates from 1915. It was a memorial to Lt Ralph Hancock DSO, and replaced a large oil painting of Jesus by the distinguished Totnes-born artist, travel writer and inventor, William Brockedon (1787-1854). 

The church contains an impressive monument to Humphrey Wyndham (d. 1622) and his wife, comprising their alabaster effigies beneath a classical wall monument. The south aisle has the 12th century octagonal font from the original church. Outside are the eroded remains of a mediaeval cross.

The church has weekly Sunday services, a cafe on Thursday mornings and periodic concerts and other events.

St Andrew, Church Street, Wiveliscombe TA4 2LR