Cornish parish Churches
St Just in Penwith
St Just in Penwith is a large parish in the far west of Cornwall. The church is dedicated to St Just, a 6th-century Cornish saint. The church is a Grade I listed building and is one of the largest in Cornwall. The tower is 120 feet high and the nave is 100 feet long. The church has a fine collection of medieval stained glass. The churchyard is home to a number of ancient crosses and there is a holy well in the grounds. St Just in Penwith is a popular tourist destination and is well worth a visit.
St Ives
The beautiful 15th century church of St Ives is dedicated to Ia, an Irish princess who was martyred in Cornwall in the 5th century. The church has a fine tower and spire, and the interior is full of interesting features, including a 15th century rood screen and a 16th century font. The church is also home to a number of important memorials, including one to the poet John Betjeman, who lived in St Ives for many years.
Penzance
Penzance, a historic port town on the south-western tip of Cornwall, is home to several significant parish churches. The most notable is St Mary's Church, a 19th-century Neo-Gothic masterpiece with a soaring spire that dominates the town skyline. Other notable churches include St John's Church, a Victorian Gothic revival building, and All Saints' Church, a Georgian structure with a unique octagonal tower. These churches played a central role in the religious and cultural history of Penzance and continue to serve as important civic and spiritual landmarks today.
St Buryan
St Buryan is a large and impressive church dedicated to an obscure saint of that name. It has an unusually long nave and chancel, and a fine tower with angle turrets and battlements. The interior is also impressive with a wide, lofty arcades, a fine wagon roof and a series of 15th-century bench ends with carved poppyheads.
St Merryn
The parish church of St Merryn stands on a slight rise overlooking the Camel Estuary and the Gannel Estuary. It is a 15th-century church, dedicated to St Merryn, a female saint from Brittany, who is said to have been martyred in the 6th century. The church is notable for its fine 15th-century tower, which is considered to be one of the best examples of perpendicular architecture in Cornwall. The tower is three stages high and is surmounted by a battlemented parapet. The church also has a number of interesting features inside, including a 15th-century rood screen and a 16th-century font.
St Mawgan in Pydar
A 'fisherman's church' near the tidal estuary of the River Camel, St Mawgan is a 12th century structure that underwent a substantial Victorian restoration. The most fascinating aspect of this church is, however, its collection of carved bench ends, created by local craftsmen in the 16th century. Among their subjects are local people, grotesque faces, animals, musicians and mythical creatures. Some are possibly heraldic, as they depict the arms of local landowners, including the Courtenays and the Arundells. Also of interest is the early 16th century rood screen, as fine as any in the county.
Tintagel
Tintagel is a small parish on the Atlantic coast of Cornwall, England, best known for Tintagel Castle, a historic castle associated with the legendary King Arthur. The parish church of St Materiana is a 12th-century building that has been altered and extended over the centuries. The church is dedicated to Saint Materiana, a 5th-century Cornish saint, and is known for its beautiful stained glass windows and its ancient font, which is said to have been brought to Tintagel by Saint Materiana herself.
Fowey
Fowey is a picturesque town on the south coast of Cornwall, England. The town is home to a number of historic buildings, including the Fowey Parish Church. The church is a Grade I listed building and is believed to date back to the 12th century. The church is a popular tourist destination and is known for its beautiful stained glass windows and its stunning location overlooking the Fowey Estuary.
Saltash
The interesting church of St Nicholas dates from the 12th century, but was largely rebuilt in the 15th century when the fine tower and the south aisle were added. Notable features include the old wagon roof of the nave and the carved bosses in the chancel roof which depict both religious and secular subjects. The church has been restored in the 20th century. The churchyard is interesting, with a number of old tombstones. Opposite the church is the "Gatehouse" - the sole remaining building of the Augustinian priory of St Nicholas.