Mural monument to Rev. John Culme (d.1691), St Peter's Church, Knowstone, Devon. The armorials are Azure, a chevron ermine between 3 pelicans vulning their breasts or (Culme) impaling: Ermine, a chevron sable (arms of his wife's family, unknown). The Culme family held the sub-manor of Great Champson in Molland and acquired Canonsleigh Abbey after the Dissolution of the Monasteries. They were for a time patrons of the living of the combined parish of Molland-cum-Knowstone, perhaps because the Courtenay family, lords of the manor of Molland, were disallowed from exercising their right of presentation due to their long adherence to the Roman Catholic faith. The advowson was later leased by Rev. John Froude.^[1] The text of the sermon preached at the funeral of Rev. John Culme on 2 December 1691 is extant. The Latin inscription is as follows:

In memoriam Dom(inus) Johannes Culme …. huius pastoris vigilantissimus qui doctrina pietate suavitate moruit. Generosum Culmorum stemma ex quo oriundus erat dum vixerit adornavit qui non longum asperimum, vero emensus iter inter vola preces. Gemitus monita et suspiria sancta beatissimam Eucharistiam illibatam fidem et spem extaticam piam animam exhalavit Nov. 26 A.D. 1691. A.M.

("In memory of John Culme, the most vigilant pastor of this flock, who died gently in pious doctrine. Whilst he lived he adorned the noble stock of the Culmes from which he arose; Who not a long harsh groan did he exhale, in truth freed from errors, prayers, warnings and sighs towards the most blessed Eucharist.....He breathed forth undiminished faith and hope his pious spirit....on Nov. 26 A.D. 1691")