St Petrock's Church, Parracombe

St Petrock's Church is a medieval church in Parracombe with 18th century furnishings including box pews, altar rails, and a painted depiction of the Ten Commandments. The building is protected as a Grade I listed structure and remains largely unchanged from its historical form.

The church was founded in 1201 and replaced an earlier structure, with architectural additions made over the centuries. It has stood through centuries of religious life and community use in this part of Devon.

The church preserves its original interior decoration, showing how medieval communities in Devon arranged their religious spaces. You can still see how the box pews and decorative elements reflect the way people worshipped and gathered here long ago.

The building is well preserved and located in a quiet village setting that is easy to walk through. It is maintained by the Churches Conservation Trust and is accessible to visitors interested in medieval architecture and church furnishings.

The church faced demolition in the 19th century, but intervention by John Ruskin and other conservationists led to its preservation instead. This rescue made it an early example of protecting historical buildings during the Victorian period.