A church has been on the site of St Thomas' since Saxon times. It sits amidst the rolling mid-Devon hills, surrounded by trees and the obligatory parliament of rooks. The current Grade I listed building was enlarged in about 1180 by William de Tracey as penance for his part in the murder of Archbishop Thomas a Becket. De Tracey, one of the four knights who murdered Becket, owned several manors in Devon and his legacy can be seen elsewhere in other Devon churches such as Newton Tracey, Nymet Tracey etc.
Much of the current structure dates from further rebuilding in the 15th and 16th centuries, and most of the superb and historically important wood carvings date from the same period. These include the bench-ends, which display a great variety of subjects such as hands, monograms, scrolls and devices on shields. There is also a rare carving of a Saracen's head on one of the bench-ends. The main screen is exceptionally fine; it is carved on both sides and of national renown and importance.
https://exeter.anglican.org/directory-detail/?type=church&id=410
https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/8661/
Historic England Grade I Parish church. Norman origins, rebuilt in C15, north aisle added and nave re-roofed in late C15. Vestry added 1869 according to Cresswell and chancel is complete rebuild of same time. South porch rebuilt 1871. Further renovation of 1888 by Packham, Croote and Stuart included scraping and repointing the masonry, exposing and repairing the roofs, and some window replacement. 1955 restoration by Lt. Col. Bertram Shore. Original fabric of mudstone rubble with granite, red sandstone and volcanic ashlar detail; C19 snecked mudstone masonry and red sandstone, Hamstone and Bathstone detail; slate roofs with crested ridge tiles on north aisle. ... The late C15 8-bay oak rood screen across both nave and aisle is well-preserved and amongst the finest in the country.
https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1250085
