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Summary

Former parish church, now a chapel-of-ease, dating mainly from the late 15th to early 16th century century. The interior was destroyed by fire, when a fine rood screen was lost, and rebuilt in 1912.

Location

Protected Status

• Listed Building (II*) 1306112: CHURCH OF ST MICHAEL

Other References/Statuses

• Church of England HER: 4961
• Old DCC SMR Ref: SY19NE/22
• Old Listed Building Ref (II*): 84923
• Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division: SY19NE13

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• PARISH CHURCH (Built, XV to XVI - 1401 AD to 1600 AD)
• CHAPEL OF EASE (XIX - 1801 AD to 1900 AD)

Full description

Dean Milles, 1747-1762, Parochial Survey Questionnaire (Monograph). SDV16186.

The respondent to Dean Milles questionnaire believed the church was built around 1482, replacing the Chapel of St. Michael.

Chanter, J. R., 1890, Second Report of the Committee on Devonshire Records, 62 (Article in Serial). SDV35442.

Chanter cites a description of the church by Revd Powell after his visit in 1811. Manuscript in British Museum.

Troup, F. B., 1898, Honiton in 1530, 121 (Article in Serial). SDV136350.

The church is on the site of an early 15th century chapel of mendicant friars.

Saunders, H., 1902-1903, Monument in St. Michael's Church, Honiton, 24 (Article in Serial). SDV99838.

Bligh Bond, F., 1903, Devonshire Screens and Rood Lofts. Part II, 464 (Article in Serial). SDV6113.

The rood screen extended across the chancel and north and south chapels. Of eleven bays with three sets of doors; groining and cornices with crestings. Renovated in 1880 when armorial panel removed,

Adams, M., 1910-1911, St. Michael's Church, Honiton, 193-195 (Article in Serial). SDV99832.

Skinner, A. J. P., 1914-1915, Church of St. Michael, Honiton, 127 (Article in Serial). SDV99839.

Skinner, A. J. P., 1916-1917, St. Michael's Church, Honiton. Memorial inscription destroyed in the fire March 26th, 1911, 253 (Article in Serial). SDV99840.

The author reproduces the texts on a marble memorial that was destroyed in the fire in 1911.

A. J. P. S., 1918-1919, Blagdon memorials in St. Michael's, Honiton, 22 (Article in Serial). SDV99842.

Cresswell, B. F., 1918-1919, Blagdon Memorials, St. Michael's, Honiton, 19-22 (Article in Serial). SDV99841.

Although many memorials perished in the fire which destroyed the old church of Honiton in 1911, the Blagdon monuments are still there. The floor slab of John Blagdon, 1694, is in the north chancel aisle, somewhat injured but still legible.
[NB the above comes either from this source or from SDV99842.]

Holman, H. W., 1920-1921, Honiton Church in 1755, 270-275 (Article in Serial). SDV99843.

A seating plan of 1755 is described and illustrated. There is an accompanying list of the congregation.

Skinner, A. J. P., 1920-1921, Honiton Church in 1755, 305 (Article in Serial). SDV99844.

Cresswell, B. F., 1927, Devonshire Churches: The Buildings and Builders, 161 (Article in Serial). SDV124362.

Doe, G. M. (ed.), 1940, Forty-fifth Report of Scientific Memoranda, 127 (Article in Serial). SDV99831.

The foundations of an earlier church were discovered when excavating to form a heating chamber in 1894. A human skeleton, lying north-south, was built into the foundations of the east running wall (information from T. B. Panther).

Pevsner, N., 1952, The Buildings of England: North Devon, 182-183 (Monograph). SDV336196.

Originally a fine example of perpendicular style before fire; rectangular plan with transepts centrally placed, not projecting. Wagon roofs best features of interior. Main architectural features described.

Hoskins, W. G., 1954, A New Survey of England: Devon, 412 (Monograph). SDV17562.

Church of St Michael. Late 15th. Century and early 16th. Large windows of clear glass; chancel probably built by John Takell (d.1529) as suggested by the date on the chancel piers. Interior gutted by fire in 1911 when the fine rood screen was destroyed. Several interesting memorials remain including the tomb of Thomas Marwood the physician (d.1617). The church stands on a steep hillside above the town.

Lamb, S., 1957, Some notes on 18th century furnishings in the parish churches of Devon, 217 (Article in Serial). SDV65364.

Rood screen destroyed in fire of 1911.

Coxhead, J. R. W., 1962-1964, An inventory of St. Michael's Church, Honiton, 220-221 (Article in Serial). SDV99845.

An inventory for the church in 1643 given and discussed.

Coxhead, J. R. W., 1964, The bells of St. Michael's church, Honiton in the XVII century, 257-259 (Article in Serial). SDV99846.

Churchwardens accounts for re-casting of bells in 1611 given.

Department of Environment, 1972, Honiton, 2 (List of Blds of Arch or Historic Interest). SDV337401.

Now a Chapel of Ease. Dates mainly from the late 15th century. Interior destroyed by fire and rebuilt 1912.

Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division, 1975, SY19NE13 (Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card). SDV99834.

St Michael's Church was originally built in the 15th-16th century. It was gutted by fire in 1911 and rebuilt. All that remains of the original church are part of the outer walls and tower.

Timms, S. C., 1976, The Devon Urban Survey, 1976. First Draft, 120, 125, 132 (Report - Survey). SDV341346.

St. Michael's Church was the parish church until the dedication of St. Paul's Church in the town centre in the 19th century. It has been suggested that St. Michael's was the focus for the late Saxon settlement of Honiton but the church is not documented until 1406. The present structure was restored after being severely damaged by fire in 1911. The churchyard is still used.

Griffith, F. M., 1985, DAP/FB, 5 (Aerial Photograph). SDV338143.

Griffith, F. M., 1986, DAP/GS, 1, 2 (Aerial Photograph). SDV112607.

Porter, J. H., 1987, Church building in eighteenth century Honiton. (Article in Serial). SDV350122.

Cherry, B. + Pevsner, N., 1989, The Buildings of England: Devon, 494 (Monograph). SDV325629.

Dixon, T. + Weddell, P. J., 1995, Archaeological and Historical Appraisal of the Town of Honiton, East Devon, 4, 5 (Report - Assessment). SDV338066.

Fisher, J., 1999, East Devon Conservation Area Appraisals: Honiton, 3, 7, 13 (Report - non-specific). SDV346894.

St Michael's Church, the former Parish Church of Honiton and now a Chapel of Ease, is well concealed among trees on an elevated site over half a mile to the south. It is a distinguished building of the late 15th to early 16th century. The chancel was rebuilt circa 1500. The interior was gutted by fire in 1911 when a fine rood screen was lost. It contains the tomb of Thomas Marwood (died 1617). There are especially fine views over the town from this point.

Bayer, O. J. + Turton, S. D., 2000, Archaeological Recording at St Michael’s Church, Honiton (Report - non-specific). SDV336291.

An archaeological assessment and recording were undertaken at St Michael's church in July 2000 during groundwork for the construction of a new drain and wall against the east wall of the church. No evidence of earlier archaeological deposits or dating was observed or retrieved. The 0.7m high footings for the eastern wall were exposed showing that they only extended to 0.4m below the existing ground level. The C15 ground level was possibly marked by the position of the stone plinth.

Foster, K. + Skinner, R., 2016, A30 to A303 Honiton to Devonshire Inn Improvement Scheme, Honiton, Devon (Report - Assessment). SDV359378.

Desk based assessment undertaken along a corridor associated with the A30/A303 between Honiton and Devonshire Inn. This study is intended to inform the development of options for improvements to the A30/A303 between Honiton and Devonshire Inn.
The Church of St Michael is located in a prominent hillside position on the southern outskirts of Honiton. The church is set within a secluded churchyard but has a tower which is locally prominent. Views from the church towards the Site are entirely screened by modern housing and the tower is not visible from the Site due to intervening modern housing on the eastern side of Honiton. As such the Site is not considered to be within the setting of the church and development would cause no harm to its significance.

Williams, M. A., 2019, A Reluctant Revolution: The Evidence of Devon (and some Somerset and Cornwall) Churchwardens' Records concerning the Construction and Maintenance of Roodlofts and Screens immediately prior to, and after, the Reformation in England, 250 (Article in Serial). SDV366280.

In 1528 Joan Tackle left £3 6s 8d to the making of the rood loft.

Ordnance Survey, 2024, Mastermap 2024 (Cartographic). SDV365834.

Historic England, 2024, National Heritage List for England, 1306112 (National Heritage List for England). SDV365835.

Church of St Michael. Now Chapel-of-Ease. Dates mainly from late C15. Interior destroyed by fire and rebuilt.

Historic England, 2024, The Church of St Michael and All Angels, former Sexton's house and lych gate, Waterleat Avenue, Honiton (List of Blds of Arch or Historic Interest). SDV366204.

Historic England is currently considering whether the List entry for the church should be amended, as part of a strategic project to help address buildings on the Heritage at Risk Register in the South West. They have completed a consultation report which sets out the factual information upon which their recommendation will be based.

Historic England, 2025, Church of St Michael and All Angels and lych gate, Waterleat Avenue, Honiton, Devon (List of Blds of Arch or Historic Interest). SDV366399.

Notification that the entry for the Church of St Michael and All Angels and lych gate on the List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest has been amended.
REASONS FOR DESIGNATION DECISION
It is recommended that the List entry for the Church of St Michael and All Angels which dates from the C15, was enlarged in the early C16, and restored in 1896 and again in 1912 following a fire, is amended for the following principal reasons:
Updating the NHLE: to more clearly reflect the more than special interest of the building and to aid understanding and assist in its future management. The current List entry is extremely brief and consists only of one line of text.

Clarity: to include the lych gate as a subsidiary feature.

Historic England, 2025, National Heritage List for England 2025, 1306112 (National Heritage List for England). SDV366287.

Church of St Michael and All Angels and Lych Gate.
Summary
This was the orginal parish church of Honiton, built around 1480 on the site of an earlier chapel. It was extended in the early C16 but became a chapel of ease to the new parish church in 1838. Restored in 1896 by E H Harbottle, it was rebuilt and restored in 1912 by CE Ponting after a devasting fire. Lych gate of 1909; restored 1976.
Reasons for Designation
The Church of St Michael and All Angels which dates from the C15, was enlarged in the early C16, and restored in 1896 and again in 1912 following a fire, is listed at Grade II* for the following principal reasons:
Architectural interest: for the good survival of medieval fabric and for the well-considered early-C20 restoration; it contains several notable C16 and C17 tombs, wall-mounted memorial tablets dating from the C18 to the C19, and an interesting collection of mostly C19 graffiti.
Historic interest: the early-C20 restoration was carried out by C E Ponting, a well-regarded architect, based in Wiltshire, and Diocesan Surveyor for Salisbury, who was careful to preserve and complement the existing work.
Group value: with the lych gate and the Grade II listed former sexton’s house.
See listing description for full details.
Date first listed; 1st June 1949. Date of most recent amendment: 11th February 2025

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events: none recorded

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