 Location: Incised
into the top of the coffin stone at the South Tawton Church Lychgate.O/S Grid Ref: SX/65302/94464
Longitude/Latitude (Degrees+/-): -3.91010/50.73412
Map location:
Click here
to view map.
Purpose: Ornamentation
to the Lychgate Coffin Stone.
Size: The cross
measures 4 feet 1 inch (1.25 metres) long and 1 foot 3 inches inches (0.38 metres) across the arms.
Information: At 4 feet
3 inches (1.30 metres), the coffin stone is only slightly longer than the
cross which has been incised into its  upper
surface. The width of the stone tapers from 17 inches (0.43 metres),
at the end furthest from the church, down to 13 inches (0.33 metres) at
the nearest end. The depth of the stone measures 4½ inches (0.11
metres). The stone is supported 13 inches (0.33 metres) off the
ground by two shaped stones, one at each end. The corners of the
stone have been rounded, although the edges have been left square rather
than being bevelled.
Back in the days when the coffin
was brought to the church by horse and cart, and more recently in a
hearse, the coffin would be  carried up the steps of the lychgate and
rested on the coffin stone prior to being lifted by the bearers and
carried into church on their shoulders at the appropriate time. This
practice has now mostly been overtaken by the coffin being wheeled into
the church on a tailor-made trolley.
South
Tawton Church, dedicated to St Andrew, is one of a number of churches that
have come together in the 'Whiddon Parishes' group, within the Diocese of
Exeter. The church was
rebuilt 
in the 15th/16th centuries on the base of a much older church and
also underwent a major renovation towards the end of the 19th
century. The walls of the Grade 1 Listed building are mainly  built
of granite ashlar with a slate roof. The front of the church tower
has a clock showing the time for the benefit of the locals where, below
and to one side, can still be seen its forerunner in the form of a large
sundial. The attractive thatched Tudor building standing next to the
lychgate is the Church House which is open, at certain times, for the
benefit of the locals for morning coffee and cream teas.
Our
thanks to Chris
Taylor for
bringing this cross to our attention.
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