The Grand Western Canal flows past the silvered oak door.
Sheep chew up the churchyard, often butting open the door to see what’s inside...

Salmon pink walls, a stripey screen stencilled with stars and pouting cherubs...

Ayshford Chapel is a true Devonshire doozy.

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A chapel has been on this site since at least 1282, but the current building dates to the 15th century. It was built as a private chapel for the Ayshford family who lived right next door in Ayshford Court.

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The limestone rubble walls are peppered with quatrefoil panels that fill the putlog holes. Tall Perpendicular windows pour light into the chapel. A single bell hangs in the turret, inscribed ‘The Bell is Henry Ayshford’s 1657’.

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A continuous wagon roof spans the simple interior. The was re-formed in the 19th century but reuses medieval timbers and bosses. Most are foliate but one carries a rebus of a sheep, a letter T and a circular object. We’ve yet to decode it.

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A screen of greens and reds, stars and rosettes, announces the chancel. This is Victorian but cleverly mimics colours and motifs found on medieval Devonshire screens.

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John Ayshford’s marble monument dominates the nave. Ayshford died in 1689, and his memorial is festooned with swags, heraldry, cherubs, scrolls and flaming urns.

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The 19th-century stained glass with ribbons, inscriptions and saints is by John Toms, a Wellington-based stained-glass designer … and undertaker… for many local churches. The eagled-eyed will find his monogram, his initials intertwined at the base of several windows.

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Read more about the delights of this Devonshire chapel: http://friendsoffriendlesschurches.org.uk/ayshford/ 

#grandwesterncanal #devon #oldchurch #friendlesschurches

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