Church of St Peter the Poor Fisherman

The Church of St Peter the Poor Fisherman stands in the quiet village of Noss Mayo in Devon. Built in 1226, it occupies a gentle slope near the tidal River Erme. The church was once part of the larger civil parish of Revelstoke and is now looked after by the Churches Conservation Trust. It was declared redundant in 1971 and transferred to the Trust the following year. The building still holds its Grade I listed status, marking its national importance. The church’s roots go back to Saxon times, with later additions in the 13th, 14th and 15th centuries. The aisle and porch still show their original carved wagon roofs, though much of the rest has lost its covering. By the 19th century the building had fallen into disrepair. A new St Peter’s church was built nearby in 1880–82 and remains in use today. Occasional summer services are still held in the old building. Inside, visitors find a simple nave and chancel with plain stone walls. The surviving roofs in the aisle and porch reveal fine medieval craftsmanship. Light falls through clear windows onto the worn flagstones. Outside, the churchyard slopes down to the riverbank, where boats rest at low tide. The nearby new church stands as a contrast, its Victorian style more ornate than the older building.