The Church is of exceptional interest and dates from the 14th Century. It seats 300 persons and is dedicated to the Norwegian King and so-called Martyr, St Olaf At the restoration in 1928 the foundations of the original Norman Church were uncovered but nothing of this remains above ground. The Parish of Poughill is pronounced Poffil and is mentioned in the Domesday Book Since 1876 it has been in the Diocese of Truro, before that in Exeter.
The Pillars on the north side and south arch of the nave are of Caen stone 14th Century; those of the south side are granite 15thCentury. The Piscine and Aumbry in the south chancel are 13th Century.
The Benches. Poughill is famous for its splendid carved oak bench-ends. The deeply carved ones date probably from the time of Henry VII (1485-1509). Many have emblems and scenes telling, in minute detail, the story of the passion. The other shallow and less expert carvings date from the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1(1558-1603). They are less numerous and are mainly armorial carvings or the sacred initials I.H.C.
The Pulpit was carved by a parishioner about 1880 from an oak beam taken from the old Church house building. In the time of the reformation the pulpit probably stood in th~ middle of the chancel.
The Oak Communion Table, probably dates from Edward VI's reign and was substituted for the altar according to the Royal Order issued in November 1550 for the entire removal of Altars in Churches, and setting up Tables in some convenient part ofthe Chancel instead. Its simple style and small size (before a new and enlarged top was put in in 1941) may be due to the practise ofmoving the table into the body of the chancel in the days of Puritan ascendancy.
The Roof of the Church. The Church retains its late 15th Century wagon roofs, and, except in the chancel and porch, the plaster panels between the oak beams remain. The carved roof bosses of wood are a feature of the West particularly of Cornwall. Stone roof bosses are common elsewhere. The Vestry door was once the entry to the former winding stairway to the rood lofi over the former screen, which once extended right across the Church.
The Wall Paintings. Both frescoes date from about 1470, and depict St Christopher. In 1894 they were discovered beneath the whitewash. Such paintings were once common in churches. The Poughill accounts record the washing out of the figures' in 1550 at the Reformation. According to the legend, St Christopher was a heathen giant who, on turning Christian, was instructed by a holy hermit to carry travellers over a dangerous ford, and who, one stormy night carried the child Jesus on his shoulder.
The Royal Arms (1655) in raised plaster over the Vestry door, date from Charles II's reign. His initials C.R are in the upper corners.
Charles I’s Letter of Thanks (1643). Originally the letter had been painted on the Church wall. Now only the copy hangs in the Church. He thanked his Cornish subjects for their loyalty and efforts in the Civil war. Against overwhelming odds at the Battle of Stamford Hill the Parliamentarv forces were routed.
Sir Goldsworthy Gurney Tablet. This can be seen over the main entrance. It records the fact that the clock was placed in the Tower in memory of one, whose success in speeding communications brought about the adoption of a standard time throughout the country. This occurred only last century: until 1852 Exeter clocks showed local time.
The Tower is of perpendicular style, 14th Century with embattled, crocketed pinnacles, and built of granite. It contains a peal ofsix bells; none, however, of great antiquity. Beneath the tower there was formerly a singing gallery on pillars, put up in 1779, and occupied by a band of instrumentalists and singers before the days of harmonium or organ. This was taken down in 1860. The screen was erected in
1969.
The Font dates from about 1400. The four pulars ofcatacleuse stone are modern. A second fbnt, also ofgranite standing outside the Porch, mav be Norman.
The Porch, perpendicular in style, 14th Century, retains its original stone benches on either side. Formerly it was largely used for secular business~ The massive oak door dates from the 15th Century, with its original iron work, and huge wooden cased lock The modern oak door dates from 1971. One the east side of the door is the holy water stoup, but the basin has been renovated. Above the inner south door of the porch is a niche, probably once occupied by a statue of the Virgin.
The Lych Gate was rebuilt in 1897, but the former gates with their ancient ironwork are preserved in the tower. The most interesting object in the churchyard is undoubtedly the huge granite slab near the lych gate. About 1890 a landslide on the cliff near Northcott Mouth broke open an ancient burial tumulus, dated, from the coins found therein, back to the earliest days of the Christian era. The Vicar had the cremated remains removed to our churchyard for burial, and placed over them the great covering stone of the kistraen or rough stone coffin.
The Church House now three dwellings opposite the Lych Gate was built of stone about 1525, and the use of stone, when cob was universal for houses in the area, shows its importance. For many years the church house was the centre of village life before the Civil War.