Ugborough 8 miles S.W. of Totnes 22 June 1847
The churchyard of this place is entered on the north by a flight of steps and a Lich-gate with a large heavy roof. The church is a large handsome structure consisting of a nave 135 feet long by 18 wide, a chancel 9 by 18, aisles north and south 124 feet long by 12 wide, their walls embattled. Transepts north and south each about 16 feet by 11. Porches covering the north and south doors, that on the north with embattled walls, a Tower at the western end of the nave 21 feet square & 100 feet high containing 8 bells & a clock and a vestry at the eastern end of the north aisle, a curious little projecting room with mullioned windows and embattled walls.
The north doorway is handsome a low pointed arch ornamented with foliage and mouldings. The nave opens to each transept by a large wide low arch and to the aisles by 5 pointed arches on each side resting on heavy octagonal columns without capitals or ornament. The chancel is divided from its side aisles by 2 pointed arches on light columns formed by shafts and mouldings the capitals rudely ornamented but coated with whitewash.The windows are of various character, that in the east wall of the chancel has some defaced perpendicular tracery others have been despoiled of tracery & the rest are of 5, 4 or 3 lights with plain arched heads under low pointed arches. There are no remains of ancient painted glass but two modern coats of arms of good design & execution, one in a window of the north aisle viz. in a lozenge. Gules a Bend between 3 martlets or impaling per fesse or and azure a fesse per fesse indented of the second and first the other coat in a window of the south aisle viz. Argent a chevron gules between 9 Nails / qy. or pegs heads of allspice or what? 6 in chief and 3 in base tenny (qy proper?). Crest a Camel passant or laden argent. Supporters two griffins a fesse gules and/or. Motto God grant grace. The ceilings of the nave and chancel are coved and plain those of the aisles flat. That of the north aisle has been handsomely enriched with ribs of carved oak with numerous bosses of various designs in figures and foliage among them are two especially remarkable, a sow with eight sucking pigs and a smith forging a horseshoe at an anvil both cut with great spirit & effect. There are remains of a handsome chancel screen now forming sides of pews ornamented with numerous painted figures Romish saints and martyrs. A wooden screen against the east wall of incongruous design – a plain oaken communion table. The pulpit is of stone handsomely carved in oblong pannels enriched with foliage. It stands on an octagonal column ornamented with niches and shields. The Font is a large circular stone basin but does not appear to be very ancient. A gallery at the western end of the nave bears the date 1778. At the end of the north aisle are the parish stocks apparently out of use. The monuments and inscriptions areas follow
 |
 |
Chancel
North Wall. Two marble tablets which appear to have formed part of a larger monument.
- The sacred remains of Mr. Richard Fownes of Whitehouse rests here who resigned all that was mortal the 8th. Day of May 1680 in an assured expectation of being reunited to his immortal part which is gone to the spirits of just men made perfect as also of Mrs. Petronel his wife who a just tribute to tears paid to the memory of six children that lie near her (a religious and vertuous offspring which went early to heaven) was carryed through a valley of grief and sorrow into Abraham;s bosom July 20 1712. In memory of whose vertues this monument of affection and gratitude is erected.
- In memory of Mrs. Honor Edgcombe sister to Mrs. Fownes who after she had fought the good fight of faith and finished the course of religion and virtue was received among the faithful to inherit an eternal crown of glory May the 5th 1706.
Floor ………………buryed the 28th. day of May Ano Domi………….
Against one of the columns on the south side a tablet – As a testimony of affection and gratitude to the best of brothers this monument was erected by Mrs Gidoin to the memory of George Legassicke esq of Modbury who died 6th. Oct 1789 aged 60 years and was at his particular request interred in this church near his beloved wife.
Floor S.D.S April the 18th. day 1764.
Nave
North wall a stone tablet. Heer lyes the bodie of Thomas Williams of Pyke gent sonne and heire apparante of Thomas Williams of Stowford esq. He was borne decimo septimo Marcii 1601 and died the 11th. of September 1630.
His life his days his deedes you knew
His thoughts alone the Lorde can shew
Shorte life many days and yll he had
Follow good deeds cover his bad
His own yll thoughts God hath forgiven
Christ gave his good who gives him heaven
Porte super terram lies sub nobe quiesco
Sub coela morier sed mihi vita super.
Arms not coloured Three Birds heads* erased impaling on a Bend three millrinds…… *qy [Speccot]
Floor Here lieth the body of Peter Farel who died 23 Jany. 1770 aged 35.
Here lieth the body of Alice wife of John Hosking – buried ….. day of Novr 1759 in the 40 year of her age.
Jane wife of John Lang Phillein. Died in the 68 year of her age 1741. Mary wife of Job Lang died in the 44 year of her age.
John Lang Philliam buried May 11 1777 aged 69.
North Aisle
Floor. Underneath are the deposited remains of William Spry youngest son of the rev’d John Spry and Ann his wife born at Crediton June 20 1805 died at Ugborough Novr 17 1821 of a rapid and amiably-endured decline aged 16 years.
North Transept
East Wall a marble tablet and urn. Sacred to the memory of two affectionate brothers this monument is erected Mr Thomas King of Fowelscombe in this parish who died the 13 day of Jany 1792 in the 51 year of his age also his elder brother Mr John King who died the 26 Jany 1795 in the 56 year of his age.
West wall - a tablet with a weeping figure and an urn.
Sacred to the memory of Mr. Richard King who died Jany. 18 1811 aged 65. His affectionate widow has caused this mournful tribute of her love to be erected in testimony of the great regard and respect she bears to her husband’s memory.
South Aisle
Against the chancel screen an old coat of arms carved in wood.
(argent) three Bars gemels gules, on a Canton * (azure) a lion passant or – impaling quarterly – 1 & 4 Argent a Bend sable, a File ** of five labels gules 2 & 3 . . . a Chevron between three Birds sable. Crest a Birds head or holding in his beak a Snake proper. Supporters Dexter a Heron proper. Sinister a Snake proper.
*Fowntayne
**Sture or Carswell
Davidson 1847
James Davidson, “Church notes on the South of Devon”. Five volumes written between 1843 – 1857. Held at the West Country Studies Library, Exeter.
Transcribed by Alan Yates, Nov. 2009