St Mary the Virgin, Totnes
St Mary the Virgin, Totnes
St Mary’s is a Grade I parish church on the High Street in Totnes, Devon, in the Diocese of Exeter. It was formerly the Benedictine priory church of St Mary.
- Location
- Totnes, Devon
- Country
- England
- County
- Devon
- City / town
- Totnes
- Address
- High Street, Totnes, Devon, TQ9 5NN
- Postcode
- TQ9 5NN
- Built
- Nave 1432–44; chancel 1445–48; tower 1449–59; screen 1459–60
- Architect
- Roger Crowden (tower); Sir Gilbert Scott (nineteenth-century restoration)
- Denomination
- Church of England
- Dedication
- Mary
- Diocese
- Exeter
- Parish
- Totnes
- Grade
- I
- Style
- Perpendicular
- Materials
- Random Devonian limestone rubble with red sandstone dressings; tower of red sandstone from Stoke Gabriel; Welsh slate roofs
- Grid reference
- SX 802 604
- Opening hours
- Open every day from around 8.30am to 4pm in Winter or 5pm in Summer.
- Access
- Accessible toilets nearby. Level access to the main areas
Overview
Historic England records that in 1432 Prior Stone and Mayor John Burhed agreed a complete rebuilding, for which Bishop Lacy granted an indulgence. The nave dates from 1432–44, the chancel 1445–48, the tower 1449–59 and the screen 1459–60. Master mason Roger Crowden designed the tower and may have directed the whole campaign. The church is Perpendicular: a four-bay nave with aisles (an outer north aisle added about 1824 and remodelled about 1869), a two-bay chancel with rood-stair turret, and chancel aisle-chapels. Walls are random Devonian limestone rubble with red sandstone dressings; the tower is entirely of red sandstone from Stoke Gabriel, with Welsh slate roofs.
The listing highlights a fine stone screen with eight narrow two-light openings and ceiled wagon roofs. Sir Gilbert Scott removed the rood loft around 1862 and undertook later restoration. Conventual buildings of the priory lay to the north, now represented by the Guildhall. The church remains the principal medieval landmark of the town centre.