Paignton - St John the Baptist

In late Saxon times, the manor of Paignton was owned by Leofric, the first Bishop of Exeter. Later bishops built the Bishop's Palace adjoining the parish church, some remains of which are still standing.
The first church on this site was possibly a wooden structure but nothing remains above ground, although its foundations have been discovered. The Second (Norman) church was built about 1100 but this was almost completely demolished and rebuilt around 1250. Today, the church which can be seen is the third building to be established there and has been gradually transformed since the Middle Ages.
It is claimed that this baptismal font is the oldest in Devon. The font has a ‘honeysuckle’ decoration and is Norman. In the 15th century it was replaced by a contemporary one and buried in the churchyard. When it was rediscovered in the last century, it was given away and turned into a decorative garden vase. It was finally put back in its old place in 1930.