St Bridget, Bridgerule
St Bridget, Bridgerule
St Bridget is a Grade I parish church at Churchtown, Bridgerule, on the Devon side of the Tamar in the Diocese of Exeter. It stands in an elevated position and forms a landmark on the edge of the village. The church was formerly dedicated to St Michael.
- Location
- Bridgerule, Devon
- Country
- England
- County
- Devon
- City / town
- Bridgerule
- Address
- Bridgerule, Devon, EX22 7EL
- Postcode
- EX22 7EL
- Built
- C13 chancel and north transept; nave mid C14; south aisle and tower c.1400-50
- Architect
- J P St Aubyn (restoration 1878)
- Denomination
- Church of England
- Dedication
- Bridget
- Diocese
- Exeter
- Parish
- Bridgerule
- Grade
- I
- Style
- Medieval parish church; Perpendicular south arcade and tower
- Materials
- Random rubble local stone with granite dressings; ashlar tower and porch
- Grid reference
- SS 281 031
- Opening hours
- The church welcomes visitors but is generally kept locked for security. Access to the church can be arranged by contacting one of the churchwardens: Mr Trevor Bowden 01288 381 247 or Mr Peter Harris 01288 381 329.
- Access
- Elevated rural site on the edge of the village; steps to enter the church or churchyard.
Overview
Historic England dates the chancel and north transept to the thirteenth century, the enlarged nave to the mid fourteenth, the south aisle with porch to 1400-50, and the unbuttressed crenellated west tower to about 1450. The church was restored in 1723, when the west gable of the south aisle was rebuilt. J. P. St Aubyn added a vestry and carried out minor restoration in 1878; the interior was refitted between 1889 and 1913. Fabric is random rubble local stone with granite dressings, an ashlar tower and porch, and slate roofs, diamond-patterned on the south aisle.
The five-bay Perpendicular south arcade has depressed pointed arches and octagonal capitals. Fittings include a Norman egg-cup font, a Romanesque pillar piscina reused as a stoup in the porch, two pieces of medieval stained glass, and an extensive set of late nineteenth-century Tractarian woodwork. The porch holds the Ten Commandments tablets and village stocks. The church has a peal of eight bells.