English: Alabaster effigy in St George's Church, Modbury, Devon, described by Pevsner as "effigy c.1460" (
Pevsner, Nikolaus & Cherry, Bridget, The Buildings of England: Devon, London, 2004, p.570). This would suggest William Champernowne (d.1464), of Modbury, lord of the manor of Modbury, who married Elizabeth Chidderleigh, daughter and heiress of John Chidderleigh. (
Vivian, Lt.Col. J.L., (Ed.) The Visitations of the County of Devon: Comprising the
Heralds' Visitations of 1531, 1564 & 1620, Exeter, 1895, p.162). His son was Sir John Champernowne (1458–1503) of Modbury, possibly another candidate for the effigy.
The effigy is similar to the alabaster effigy of
Robert Willoughby, 1st Baron Willoughby de Broke (c. 1452–1502) in
Callington Church in Cornwall, both wearing livery collars of roses.
[1] Willoughby married Blanche Champernowne, one of the co-heiresses of Champernowne of Bere Ferrers, and a half-second-cousin of William Champernowne (d.1464) of Modbury. Willoughby's contemporary was Sir John Champernowne (1458–1503) of Modbury who married Margaret Courtenay (c.1459-1504), a daughter of Sir Philip Courtenay (died 1488) lord of the manor of Molland, Devon,
Sheriff of Devon in 1470, the second son of
Sir Philip Courtenay (1404–1463) lord of the manor of Powderham, Devon, by his wife Elizabeth Hungerford.(
Vivian, Lt.Col. J.L., (Ed.) The Visitations of the County of Devon: Comprising the
Heralds' Visitations of 1531, 1564 & 1620, Exeter, 1895, p.162 (pedigree of Champernowne), pp.246,251 (pedigree of Courtenay)).