Church of St Margaret of Antioch

The Church of St Margaret of Antioch is the Anglican parish church of Northam, near Bideford in Devon. Dedicated to Saint Margaret, it has been a Grade I listed building since 1951 and is part of the Diocese of Exeter.

An earlier Norman church once stood on the site, but most of the present building dates from the 15th century, with parts of the tower being older. The church was extensively restored between 1845 and 1870 under the direction of architect Daniel Mackintosh. Its tall tower, rising about 170 feet, has long served as a landmark for ships in the Bristol Channel and was traditionally whitewashed on the seaward side for visibility. The nave dates from the 13th or 14th century, and a north aisle was added in 1593 as the population grew.

The church is noted for its fine Elizabethan barrel-vaulted ceiling, likely built by local shipwrights, and for the Chapel of Saint George, once associated with a medieval charitable guild. The baptismal font, rediscovered during the Victorian period, shows damage said to date from the Civil War. Nearby are a statue of St Francis of Assisi and a copy of the medieval Northam Kyrie, a rare plainsong manuscript linked to the church.

The Lady Chapel dates from 1623 and contains the organ and a World War I memorial altar. The churchyard includes many historic graves, those of sailors, soldiers, and clergy, as well as Commonwealth War Graves from the Second World War.

Address
Fore Street, Northam, United Kingdom

Established
15th century