MDE10452 - St Thomas's Church, Kentisbury (Building)

St Thomas's Church has a 15th or early 16th Century west tower, nave and south porch. It was restored in 1873-5, when the chancel was rebuilt and the north aisle added. An 18th Century sundial is mounted on the porch.

(SS 6226 4382) Church (NAT). [1] Church of St Thomas. 15th or early 16th Century west tower and fabric of nave walls and south porch. Chancel rebuilt, north aisle added and restored 1873-5 by C Dolby of Abingdon for the Reverend Thomas Openshaw, absentee rector and patron 1863-77 (he lived near Manchester). Plan of west tower, nave, chancel, north aisle and south porch. Grade II*. [2,3] An 18th Century monument in the church is dedicated to William Richards. The body of Mr William Richards, Gent was buried here in 1739 and his son, John Richards Gent, in 1767. [4] A few fragments of an old rood screen were removed in 1874 andpreserved in the vestry in 1896. They have been since discovered. [5] A slate sundial on the porch is dated 1762 and is one of eight extant dials signed by John Berry. The engraved motto is "watch and pray time steals away". [6] The building was visited in September 2012 as part of the rapid condition survey of Exmoor's Listed Buildings 2012-13. It received a BAR score of 6. [7] A Roll of Honour commemorates those who served from the Parish in the Second World War. A gravestone in the churchyard includes an inscription commemorating Harry Bushen, born 17th December 1879 and killed in action in France on 1st November 1918. [8] This record was enhanced as part of the National Record of the Historic Environment to Exmoor National Park Historic Environment Record data transfer project. [9] The church is depicted on the Tithe Map for Kentisbury and is labelled "Church", and is shown in land parcel 1 with the churchyard. The landowner (Glebe) is described as the Reverend Charles Barter Sweet, and the occupier as the Reverend John James Rowe. [10] "St Thomas's Church (Rectory)" is shown on the 25 inch 1st Edition Ordnance Survey map. [11] The church is also depicted and labelled on the 2021 MasterMap data. [12]