St Nectan's Church, Hartland, Medieval church building in Stoke, Hartland, England
St Nectan's Church is a stone church in Hartland, Devon, with a tall tower that rises about 128 feet (39 meters) and can be seen from far away. Inside, the building holds a large carved rood screen from the 15th century and a Norman baptismal font from the 12th century.
The church was founded around 1050, reportedly as an act of thanks after a safe crossing through a sea storm. Over the following centuries it was rebuilt and extended several times, with the tower reaching its current height in the 15th century.
The stained glass windows show scenes from local history, made by artists including Caroline Townshend and Joan Howson. Visitors can take time to look at each panel and follow the stories they tell about life in this part of Devon.
The church holds regular services, so it is worth checking ahead if you want to walk around inside without interruption. The building sits in the center of Hartland village and is reached on foot from the main street.
The carved rood screen was once large enough to hold an organ and seating on its upper level, making it more like a small gallery than a simple divider. This kind of structure was common in medieval Devon churches, but few examples survive in such good condition.
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