Church of the Holy Trinity

The Church of the Holy Trinity stands in the small village of Gidleigh, Devon, on high ground above the River Teign. Built in the late 15th century, it replaced an earlier Saxon or Norman church. The nave and chancel share a single roof covered in Devon oak. A three-bay arcade of granite columns separates the nave from the south aisle. The west tower holds five bells, rung from inside the church. The church’s 15th-century rood screen was painted with images of saints in 1853. The font, also from the 15th century, has an 1843 oak cover made by Charles Finch. John Aggett carved the granite pulpit and lectern in 1853, and later added the reredos in 1868. In 1863, the rector Arthur Whipham sought a divorce after his wife was found with a local farmer’s son. Inside, the pipe organ sits at the back of the south aisle. It was built by Murdoch, Murdoch and Company and has five stops. The tower contains three bells dating from around 1450. Nearby, the Old Rectory was built in 1896–97 and served as home to the rectors until the late 20th century.