Churches & Holy Sites

Ancient parish churches, holy wells and the saints who gave Cornwall its place-names.

281 places reviewed by Oliver Howes

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Advent

With photos

Showing 281 of 281

Advent Church near Tresinney

I was first at Advent church in 2014, in the course of researching a round walk from St. Breward to Camelford. Then I passed through Advent churchyard on my way from Camelford back

Agnes

I had hoped to have an entry on St. Agnes church by now but unfortunately the church is not always open and when I was in the village in early April 2018 it was closed. I emailed T

All Saints Church

-- Images to follow

Allen

St. Allen Tower and Porch

Altarnun Revisited

I was back in Altarnun in early August 2019, I was last there in May 2015 when I looked in the church briefly at the beginning of a long and most enjoyable walk that took me, by wa

Altarnun, St. Nonna's

Although I had been in or through Altarnun on many occasions, including an Inny Valleys Walk that starts here, and had attended a village coffee morning some years ago, I realised,

Altarnun, St. Nonna's Bench Ends

Hands and Feet

Anthony-in-Meneage

Visited on the same day in February 2019 as St. Manacaa's church in Manaccan, this is an unusually situated church, only a spit of shingle with boats parked on it separating the ch

Biscovey

This, rather oddly, is the parish church of the ecclesiastical parish of Par, which includes St. Blazey and Tywardreath; it's a big parish and a small church. On a sunny Saturday i

Blisland, the Church of St. Protus and St. Hyacinth

Blisland is an attractive small village set just below the western edge of Bodmin Moor. Most unusually the village centres around a large green, something you would have associated

Bodmin

, St. Petroc's Church

Breage and Sithney

I visited Breage, on the Marazion and Penzance road in mid-May 2017 to add to my collection of Cornish Crosses by finding one in Breage. As it turned out, the first one I found was

Bude's Churches

At the end of November 2017 I revisited both Bude and nearby Marhamchurch. I was in Bude primarily to look around St. Michael's Church, which stands above the Falcon Inn on the sou

Buryan, St. Buriana

I visited Buryan in mid-February 2018 on an outing which also included St. Levan, the church high above the cliffs of Porth Chapel. Buryan is a substantial village with a store and

Caerhays

It seems quite odd that St. Michaels Caerhays Church should be all of a mile (by road) from Caerhays Castle, on whose estate it stands. However, the part Norman church long predate

Calstock, St. Andrews

I revisited Calstock in early February 2018, after seeing St. Dominica's Church. I had hoped to look inside St. Andrew's Church, half a mile up the hill from Calstock itself; sadly

Camborne, St. Meriadoc

In early November 2018 I did a round of some of the churches in Camborne, Pool and Redruth (CPR). All that I tried to visit were closed: The main church, St. Meriadoc on Church Str

Camelford, St. Thomas Church

This is not the most obvious church to spot but, once you know where it is, it is one of the easiest to visit. Entering Camelford from the south on the A39, turn left into the car

Carbis Bay, St. Anta and All Saints

Modern, of little interest, closed when I was there.

Cardinham

, St. Meubred

Charlestown, St. Pauls

I used to love Charlestown but feel that since Square Sail have owned the village and harbour things have changed for the worse: parking is expensive (�2.50 for the first hour), to

Cleer, St. Clair's Church

I first saw St. Cleer church in 2011 in the course of a round walk south from Minions which included Trethevy Quoit and King Doniert's Stones. I had not been back there again until

Colan, St. Colanus

I had been in Colan before, back in August 2016, but the church was locked up on that occasion. I took a chance in January 2018 and, perhaps because there had been a christening th

Columb Major Church

St. Columb Major's Septagonal Font

Constantine, St. Constantine

This substantial church, consisting of nave, two aisles, tower and porch, stands on an eminence a couple of miles north of the Helford River, with long views to Goonhilly Downs. Li

Constantine, St. Constantine's Church and Well

Constantine's Church and Well

Cornelly, St. Cornelius Church

On the same day in late March 2018 that I looked at churches in Tregony and Kenwyn, I paid a visit to the tiny church at Cornelly, tucked away off a quiet lane near Tregony. Normal

Coverack, St. Peter's

An unusual church for Cornwall, where most churches are of the late Norman or medieval periods. St. Peter's, which stands on high ground not far from the sea, is Victorian in date,

Crantock, St. Carantoc Church

Crantock is a pleasant little village to the south of Newquay; I have described and pictured it on my Towns and Villages page. Its 14th and 15th century church, dedicated to St. Ca

Creed, St. Crida and St. Andrew

I visited Creed church a couple of times in June 2016, the first on my own just to see the church, the second with Jane for a garden opening day at Creed House. I have a particular

Crowan

, St. Crewenna's

Crowan

, More St. Crewenna's Church

Cubert, St. Cubert's Church

Cubert lies a mile or so south of Crantock, to the south of the Gannel Estuary that defines the southern boundary of Newquay. St. Cubert's church is to the south of the main street

Cury, St. Gunwalloe's Church

Leaving the Helston to Lizard Town road, Cury is halfway to delightful Poldhu Cove. There is not much to the village: thirty or forty houses, a primary school, St. Gunwalloe's chur

Devoran, St. John

A charming village, tucked quietly away from the busy Truro to Falmouth road, Devoran's present belies its past. Now a quiet and beautiful creek-side village, boasting a fair numbe

Downderry, St. Nicholas Church

On a soaking wet late November Saturday in 2018 I had an outing down south-east. I went to Millbrook first where I had hoped to look inside All Saints Church. Unfortunately it was

Duloe, St. Cuby & St. Leonard

Unusually, this entry appears on three different pages: here under churches but also on my antiquities page and my towns and villages page. The reason is that, for such a small vil

Dupath Well

Dupath Well (the Cornish "Fenton Hynsladron" means "Spring by the Robber's Path") is dedicated to St. Ethelred. The Well House is Grade I listed and built of local granite. It has

Egloskerry, St. Keria's Church

I chose an interesting day, at the end of August 2018, to visit Egloskerry's church. When I had been there in July the church was still being restored following a fire which, happi

Eval

St. Uvulus church stands quite isolated, on the fringe of a former Bomber Command airfield and not far from the sea. Normally there would also be at least a small churchtown but th

Falmouth

At the 2011 census Falmouth's population (excluding Penryn) was around 24,000, making it Cornwall's third largest town after Camborne/Redruth and St. Austell and marginally larger

Falmouth, King Charles the Martyr Church

King Charles the Martyr Church - Images to followProbably the only ancient building on the whole length of Market Street, Church Street and the first part of Arwennack Street, the

Feock, Saint Feoc's Church

I had previously been in Feock on a couple of occasions. In July 2007 I took a couple of church exterior photos, one of the Cornish Cross and several photos of nearby Loe Beach and

Flushing, St. Peter's

In March 2017 I visited Mylor Churchtown, where I had not previously been inside the church, so steeply and beautifully situated above the marina. On the way there I had been first

Forrabury near Boscastle, St. Symphorian's Church

I first encountered St. Symphorian's church - the same dedication as that in Veryan - in the course of the same round walk during which I first saw Minster Church. That was in Janu

Fowey

The church stands at the southern end of the town, not far from Town Quay. Behind and above it is Place, the ancestral home of the Treffry family, perhaps best known these days for

Germoe, St. Germoc's Church

In mid-December 2018 I had an outing down west. First I visited Porthleven, for the charming Victorian St. Bartholemew's Church. I know Porthleven well but had not previously been

Gerrans

I have a particular affection for this corner of Cornwall, the Roseland Peninsula. It is where I spent family holidays as a teenager, it is where I met Jane and the church is where

Gorran Churchtown

, St. Goranus,

Grampound

St. Naunter's Nave

Grampound, St. Naunter's Church

There are two Grampounds, Grampound Road on a north-south country lane and Grampound village on the A390, halfway between Truro and St. Austell. At first sight it appears to be a o

Gulval, St. Gulval's Church

On the same late December 2018 day that I visited St. Elwyn's Church in Hayle I took the opportunity to re-visit St. Gulval's Church in Gulval, just north-east of Penzance. To my s

Gwennap Pit

John Wesley first came to Cornwall in 1743 and one of the first areas he visited was the copper belt to the south of Camborne and Redruth. One of the first places he preached was t

Gwennap, St. Wennapa's Church

You might expect Gwennap Church and Gwennap Pit to be located adjacent to one another. You would be wrong: The pit, a collapsed mine shaft where John Wesley is claimed to have prea

Gwinear

I visited Gwinear church in early April 2017, on a sunny Saturday when I also got to see Gwithian Church and Phillack Church, all in a relatively small area to the east of Hayle. G

Gwithian

I revisited Gwithian on a sunny Saturday in Aporil 2017, a day when I also visited Gwinear and Phillack. I was pleased to find all open. This, though medieval in appearance is late

Hayle, St. Elwyn's Church

On the same late December 2018 day that I was unable to re-visit the interior of Gulval Church I was able to see the interior of St. Elwyn's in Hayle. The church stands in an eleva

Helland, St. Helena's Church

On the day in January 2018 when I revisited Blisland Church I also saw inside Helland Church for the first time; normally the church is locked but I was able to borrow the key. The

Helston, St. Michael's Church

I had seen St. Michael's Church previously, but only to photograph the exterior, so my visit to view the interior in January 2019 was my first. St. Michael's is highly unusual for

Herodsfoot, All Saints Church

I visited this small early Victorian church in late April 2018. Oddly, the church and the former rectory are up a steep hill well above the village with nothing else nearby. Views

Hessenford, St. Anne's Church

In early May 2018, I headed east to visit Herodsfoot. Feeling peckish I first continued along A38 as far as the Trerulefoot roundabout, where I indulged myself with Kernow Mill's e

Hill, St. Sampson's Church

An unusual dedication, this; there are only two St. Sampson's in Cornwall, the other at Golant, north of Fowey, overlooking the Fowey River. South Hill lies about a mile south-east

Holywell

, The Two Holy Wells

Illogan, St. Illogan

At the end of August 2017 I was in Illogan, which lies to the north of the A30, halfway between it and the coast at Portreath. To the south, the mass of Carn Brea is topped by the

Jacobstow, St. James Church

Towards the end of January 2019 I headed to the far North of Cornwall to visit a trio of churches new to me - St. James Jacobstow, St. Marwenne Marhamchurch and St. Andrew Stratton

Juliot

Hannett near Boscastle, St. Juliot Church

Julitta

Lanteglos-by-Camelford. St. Julitta,

Kea, All Hallows Church

All Hallows Kea stands in a wooded part of the Killiow estate, like Old Kea not far from Playing Place but on the other side of the A39 Truro to Falmouth Road and signed from it, a

Kenwyn, St. Keyne's Church

Kenwyn is on the northern outskirts of Truro and its church of St. Keyne is the mother church of the city. High above Truro, from the south side of the church there are views of th

Kilkhampton

, St. James

Kilkhampton

On the final Saturday in January 2019 I visited yet two more churches in the far north of Cornwall, St. James in Kilkhampton and St. Marwenna's in Morwenstow. I had previously been

Ladock, Church of St. Ladoca

Driving through Ladock on the way to Truro you see only part of it, a village hall, the Falmouth Arms pub and a tiny post office and shop on a large car park. Pevsner devotes more

Landewednack Church near Lizard Town

Landewednack Church Cove, which OS103 abbreviates to Church Cove, even though the cove is another half-mile down hill to the east, is just to the east of Lizard Town. I shall call

Landrake, St. Michaels Church

As you head towards Saltash and Devon along the A38 the elegant 100 foot tower of Landrake church appears on a hill straight ahead of you; however, you have to continue and turn ri

Laneast Church

Encountered whilst walking the Inny Valleys Trail, Laneast (2 miles north of Altarnun) is another of those churches about which I have been able to find out very little. Even the n

Lanhydrock, St. Hydroc's Church

I must have been in the Lanhydrock Estate on dozens of occasions, mostly walking and dog walking with Jane. We have been around the house - both above and below stairs - have walke

Lanihorne, St. Rumon's Church

Towards the end of September 2017 I headed down to the Roseland to pay visits to three churches, at Philleigh, Ruan Lanihorne and Lamorran. My memories of Ruan Lanihorne [not to be

Lanivet Church near Bodmin

I found Lanivet church when walking the Saints Way. Its dedication is odd. The church's own guide leaflet suggests the dedication is to St. Nivet, daughter of Welsh King Brychan, o

Lanlivery, St. Bryvyta's Church

I was first in Lanlivery in 2006 when I passed through when walking the Saints Way from Padstow to Fowey. On that occasion I was walking a section, linking the two southbound route

Lanner, Christchurch

I was passing through Lanner on my way to Gwennap when, on a whim, I followed a sign pointing right to "churches." I had no great expectations but was pleasantly surprised, after p

Lansallos, St. Ildierna's Church

At the beginning of September 2016 I had an outing to the other side of the Fowey River from Fowey. I took the Bodinnick Ferry across the Fowey and followed tiny lanes past Pont to

Launcells

St. Swithin, Launcells near Strattton,

Launceston

, St. Mary Magdalene's Church

Launceston

, St. Mary Magdalene's Church - the interior

Lelant

, St. Uny

Lesnewth

After revisiting St. Juliot's church with its Thomas Hardy associations, I went on to nearby Lesnewth. The name is a corruption of Lys Noweth or New Court. The village is but a ham

Lewannick

Lewannick is a fairly ordinary, but not uninteresting, little village, happily bypassed by the busy A30, just off the eastern fringes of Bodmin Moor. It has several buldings of int

Linkinhorne, Stoke Climsland and Lezant

At the very end of December 2017 I made a trip down east to the general area between Launceston and Callington in order to take a look at the churches in Linkinhorne, Stoke Climsla

Liskeard, St. Martin's Church

In early March 2019 I headed down east again, this time to visit St. Lalluwy's church in Menheniot village and St. Martin's church in the major town of Liskeard The most striking f

Little

coming to it for the first time from the Wadebridge direction, by the time you see the church you are probably too late to pull into the village hall car park. Coming from Padstow,

Looe, St.Martin-by-Looe and Morval

The town of Looe has no Anglican church of its own. Instead there are two a little way north of the town, St. Martin about a quarter mile north, Morval a mile or so further. St. Ma

Ludgvan, St. Ludgvan & St. Paul

I first encountered Ludgvan's church only in passing in 2006. My mid-year project was walking St. Michael's Way from Lelant to Marazion and St. Michael's Mount. I must confess that

Luxulyan, St. Ciricius & St. Julitta Church

As with Lanlivery, I was first in Luxulyan in 2006 when I passed through when walking the Saints Way from Padstow to Fowey. On that occasion I was walking a section, linking the tw

Mabe

The Mabe in question is Mabe Burnthouse, a couple of miles from Falmouth. Oddly Mabe Church is almost a far from Mabe as Mabe is from Falmouth. Approached from a big car park down

Mabyn

I have been in St. Mabyn on several occasions: in the course of walks, solo and with Jane; for lunch on several occasions at the excellent St. Mabyn Inn; and to photograph the chur

Madron, St. Maddern

Madron lies a little to the north of Penzance, just off the road to Bosullow Common, Lanyon Quoit, Men-an-Tol and Nine Maidens Common. As you drive through you are hard put to deci

Maker and the Rame Peninsula

In July 2017 I had an outing to the Rame Peninsula in far south-east Cornwall. My purpose was to visit churches in five villages altogether: Antony, St. John, Sheviock, Maker and R

Manaccan, St. Manacca's Church

Although the Lizard is the best part of an hour and a half's journey from Wadebridge I decided it was high time I visited and reported on several churches down there. I was in Mana

Marhamchurch, St. Marwenna's Church

Towards the end of January 2019 I headed to the far North of Cornwall to visit three churches - St. James Jacobstow, St. Marwenna Marhamchurch and St. Andrew Stratton. Second port

Martin-in-Meneage

On a sunny Saturday in late February I headed down to the Lizard peninsula to take a close look at a couple of churches, that of St. Mawgan in Mawgan-in-Meneage and that of St. Mar

Maryfield

On a sunny Saturday in mid-August, I decided to look at a few places on the Torpoint peninsula - Antony, Sheviock, St. John for their churches, and Torpoint itself for its location

Mawes

There is really no parking here so you will need to park in town - quay or main car park - and walk up very steep Church Hill to visit St. Mawes Church. This small church was built

Mawgan-in-Meneage, St. Mawgan's Church

On a sunny Saturday in late February I headed down to the Lizard peninsula to take a close look at a couple of churches, that of St. Mawgan in Mawgan-in-Meneage and that of St. Mar

Mawnan, Mawnan Smith, Budock & Constantine

In early June 2017 I made a couple of expeditions down to the other side of Falmouth. I was actually looking for a memorial stained glass window by Glenn Carter, commemorating some

Menacuddle Holy Well, near St. Austell

As so often with Cornish names, you can take your choice of what this one means. A. L. Rowse, who was born just a couple of miles away, was sure Menacuddle means Rock Well, Craig W

Meneage, St. Mawgan's Church

On a sunny Saturday in late February I headed down to the Lizard peninsula to take a close look at two churches, that of St. Mawgan in Mawgan-in-Meneage and that of St. Martin-in-M

Menheniot, St. Lalluwy's Church

In early March 2019 I headed down east again, this time to visit St. Lalluwy's church in Menheniot village and St. Martin's church in the major town of Liskeard. I only discovered

Merther and Eglosmerther

These tiny hamlets lie to the east of the Tresillian River, not very far from Truro. It is very strange countryside with almost none of the narrow lanes actually going anywhere of

Mevagissey, St. Peters

Mevagissey is a village of two distinct parts. The picturesque harbour is surrounded by attractive cottages on one side, by commerce on a second with restaurants, cafes and shops,

Michael's Church - Images to follow

Built 1827 by R. Crout. Described by Pevsner as "a simple Commissioners' church in Tudor Gothic with a curious castellated (crenellated) facade with embattled octagonal turrets and

Michaelstow, St. Michael's Church

On the same Saturday in mid-February that I re-visited St. Endelienta's church, I also visited St. Michael's at Michaelstow. I had been there before but only to photograph the Corn

Minster near Boscastle

I first encountered Minster Church quite unexpectedly. I had parked in Boscastle and was walking up the Valency Valley, following the river on my right. After about a mile I saw a

More Advent Church

Advent Church

More Looe, St. Martin and Morval

The town of Looe has no Anglican church of its own. Instead there are two a little way north of the town, St. Martin about a quarter miles north, Morval a mile or so further. St. M

More on St. Ia's Church

Ia's Church

More St. Petroc's Bodmin

Petroc's Bodmin

More St. Uny, Lelant

In January 2017 I had an expedition down west. First I went to see Towednack church, closed when I was there recently but happily open this time. Then I continued to Lelant where a

More St. Uny, Lelant Images

I was back at St. Uny, Lelant in late September 2018 and thought to add a few more notes and images. In medieval times Lelant was a seaport of more importance than St. Ives and the

More St. Veep Church

Veep Church

Morvah, St. Morveth

This little church, in the tiny village of Morvah, beyond Zennor on the West Penwith peninsula, which I visited in May 2018, is probably the least interesting of all the Cornish ch

Morwenstow, St. John the Baptist and St. Morwenna

Morwenstow's church, dedicated to St. John the Baptist and to its putative founder St. Morwenna, possibly a daughter of Welsh King Brychan, is unusual in more ways than one. It mus

Mullion, St. Melina's

I visited Mullion towards the end of March 2018 in order to look around St. Melina's church, which stands towards the northern edge of this large village on the western side of the

Mylor

Mylor Bridge, All Saints Church

On our way from Peranarworthal to Mylor Churchtown Jane and I called in at otherwise uninteresting Mylor Bridge to take a look at All Saints Church. We thought we were out of luck,

Mylor Churchtown

Churchtown

Mylor Churchtown, more images of St. Melor's Church

Melor's Church

Newlyn, St. Peters

I was quite surprised by this church, associating Newlyn essentially with the fishing industry and its associated trades. If you walk up The Coombe, cross the third little bridge o

Newquay, New Creation Centre

In mid-March 2018 Jane and I visited Newquay together. Secondary purpose was to lunch at the Headland Hotel's excellent Terrace Restaurant, where we enjoyed a good lunch overlookin

Newquay, St. Michaels

When I tried to visit St. Michaels, Newquay, towards the end of January 1918, I was thwarted. It was closed. I should have realised that, in a town like Newquay, it was not reasona

Newquay, St. Michaels - interior photos

St. Michael's Font

North Hill, St. Terney's Church

In the middle of March 2019 I visited two churches in the vicinity of Bobmin Moor: St. Clair's in St. Cleer and St. Terney's in North Hill, some 6 miles north-west of Launceston. A

North Petherwin, St.Paternus Church

Petherwin, St.Paternus Church

North Tamerton, St. Denis Church

Tamerton, St. Denis Church

Old Kea

Old Kea Church

I revisited Old Kea in late July 2018. It is a very pleasant and quite isolated spot. I was there to take a few more photos and include some of these below. The interior of the chu

Otterham, Jacobstow & Treneglos

I visited Otterham and Jacobstow, in the north of Cornwall, in late May 2017, mainly for their churches. Otterham's has a part Norman tower, was heavily restored in 1889, and offer

Padstow

. St.Petroc,

Padstow, St. Petroc - Father of the Cornish Church

Petroc - Father of the Cornish Church

Paul

Paul tends to be ignored by visitors, inland as it is from well known destinations such as Penzance, Newlyn and Mousehole. The first three things that strike you are the roofless l

Pendeen, St. John the Baptist

Towards the end of March 2019 I headed down to the far west, to the Penwith Peninsula beyond St. Ives, to visit my next church as I work my way alphabetically through Pevsner. This

Penponds, Holy Trinity

Holy Trinity was built in 1854 to a design by J P St. Aubyn. The architect may have been born in Powick in Worcestershire but was of the Cornish St. Aubyn family, Lords St. Levan a

Pentewan, All Saints Church

Once, but no longer, a small fishing port, at the mouth of the St. Austell River, Pentewan came to handle cargoes of tin, stone, sand and grain. A proper harbour was constructed in

Perranarworthal, St. Piran's Church

Perranarworthal, what little there is of it, lies on the main road from Truro to Falmouth. Most notable feature along the main road is the former Perran Foundry, now (2021) being c

Perranuthnoe, St. Piran & St. Michael

I had previously only known Perranuthnoe from passing through on the coast path, between Marazion and Porthleven, and from a round walk that Jane and I did from Porth-en-Alls near

Perranzabuloe

, St. Piran's

Phillack

In early February 2017 I had a busy Saturday, visiting not only Phillack but also Gwithian and Gwinear, all essentially for their churches. Phillack is one of those places which it

Philleigh, St. Fili's Church

Situated halfway between the Tregony to St. Mawes road and King Harry Ferry across the River Fal, Philleigh is an attractive small village boasting a "big house," The Glebe, a stri

Pillaton, St. Odulph's Church

At the very beginning of March 2019 I headed down east, beyond Liskeard to visit a couple of fairly remote churches in Pillaton and Quethiock. St. Odulph is an unfamiliar name but

Polruan, St. Saviours Church

Although I had been in Polruan on several occasions in my Coast Path walking days, I had not only never been inside St. Saviours Church, I had never seen it and didn't even know wh

Porthilly

, St. Michaels Church

Porthilly

, more about St. Michaels Church

Porthleven, St. Bartholemew's Church

On a fairly sunny day in mid-December I headed down west to visit three churches: St. Germoc's in Germoe for its Holy Well and St. Germoc's Chair, St. Breaca's in Breague for its r

Porthpean, Higher Porthpean, St. Levan's Church

This is an unusual and attractive small church, in the centre of the little village of Higher Porthpean. Built in 1884 by J Reeves for Lady Graves-Sawle of nearby Penrice, its fron

Portloe, All Saints Church

At the very end of September 2019 I visited little All Saints Church in Portloe on my way to the church of St. Symphorian in Veryan. This is not a church of any great significance,

Poughill, St. Olaf's Church

Poughill - pronounced Puffle - is tucked away on a quiet lane, leading to Northcott Mouth, on the north side of Bude. It is a steep village and the lane is narrow but, fortunately,

Poundstock, St. Winwaloe's Church

Less than half-a-mile from the busy A39, the so-called Atlantic Highway, Poundstock is a remarkable little hamlet. A lane loops through it from the A39 but otherwise goes nowhere.

Probus, St. Probus & St. Grace

The heart of Probus village is quite attractive, with a wide sloping triangular area at its centre, perhaps formerly a market place. Around the triangle, and up the road towards Tr

Pydar), St. Mawgan's Church

I first encountered St. Mawgan (technically Mawgan-in-Pydar, Pydar being one of the old "hundreds" of Cornwall, county divisions dating back to Saxon times) back in February 2006,

Quaker Meeting House

Cornwall has always been fertile ground for what the Church of England likes to call nonconformism. Some of John Wesley's greatest successes were in Cornwall where mining communiti

Quethiock, St. Hugo

This does seem to be an oddly named village, but less oddly when you understand that it is a variation on "coit" and therefore means wood or woodland, not that there is much woodla

Ruan Lanihorne Shields

Lanihorne Shields

Saint Feoc's Church

More Images of Saint Feoc's Church

Saltash, St. Nicholas and St. Faith

When I revisited Saltash to explore the waterfront, I was pleasantly surprised to find the church open and a lady preparing it for a later funeral. So I took my chance to have a go

Saltash, St. Stephen's Church

To open, I can do no better, in describing this somewhat unusual church, than to quote Pevsner - "A large and ambitious church with a stately tower standing in a most unusual posit

Sancreed, St. Sancredus Church

I have been in Sancreed, way down west in West Penwith, almost to Land's End, on four occasions. The first was in July 2006, the second in March 2008 then, after a gap of more than

Sancreeed - Cornish Crosses and a Holy Well and Chapel

In July 2006 I had called in at Sancreed, on my way to walk on Carnyorth Common, in search of a stone circle and some boundary stones, planning just to see a couple of much admired

Sennen, St. Sennen's Church

Most people, when they think of Sennen, will think rather of Sennen Cove, the surfimg settlement on the beach on the lovely curve of Whitesand Bay. Attractive though that may be, a

Sheviock, Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary

In mid-August 2019 I headed way down east to the Torpoint peninsula, across the broad Tamar from Devonport. I took a look at Torpoint itself but was singularly unimprerssed. My mai

South Petherwin and Lawhitton

At the beginning of January 2018 I made another trip to the Launceston area, this time primarily to visit the village of South Petherwin and to take a good look at its church. On t

St. Allen

On the same day that I re-visited Perranzabuloe church I made a first visit to St. Allen church on a minor road off the A30 near Zelah. My choice of route from the A30 was fortuito

St. Anietus Church at St. Neot

Neot

St. Austell

Austell, Holy Trinity

St. Austell

Austell, Holy Trinity - More Images

St. Benet's Abbey

Benet's Abbey - St. Benet's Web Site

St. Blazey, St. Blaise Church

Blazey, St. Blaise Church

St. Breaca's Church, Breage

More Images of St. Breaca's Church, Breage

St. Breoca's Church

Breoca's Church

St. Breock Church

Breock Church

St. Breock Church - and even more images

Breock Church - and even more images

St. Burian's Church

Burian's Church

St. Clederus Chapel and Holy Well

Clederus Chapel and Holy Well

St. Clederus Chapel, more images

Clederus Chapel, more images

St. Clement near Truro - See below for St. Clement revisited

Less than two miles from the heart of Truro, St. Clement might be another world entirely. Reached by a quiet and narrow lane, it nestles above the tidal Tresillian River, its woode

St. Clement revisited

Clement revisited

St. Clether

Clether

St. Clether, more images of the church

Clether, more images of the church

St. Columb Major

Columb Major

St. Columb Minor (& Colan)

Minor (& Colan)

St. Dennis

Dennis

St. Dennis Revisited August 2018

Dennis Revisited August 2018

St. Dominic, St. Dominica's

Dominic, St. Dominica's

St. Endellion revisited

Endellion revisited

St. Endellion, St. Endellienta's Church

Endellion, St. Endellienta's Church

St. Enoder

Enoder

St. Enodoc Church

Enodoc Church,

St. Erme, St. Hermes Church

Erme, St. Hermes Church

St. Erney, St. Terney's Church

Erney, St. Terney's Church

St. Erth

Erth

St. Ervan

Ervan

St. Ervan

Ervan

St. Euny's Well

Well

St. Ewe

Ewe

St. Gennys

Gennys

St. Germans

Germans

St. Goranus

Gorran Churchtown

St. Hilary Churchtown

Hilary Churchtown

St. Ia's Church

Ia's Church

St. Ildierna Lansallos

Lansallos

St. Issey

Issey

St. Just-in-Penwith Church

Penwith Church

St. Just-in-Roseland Church

I must confess a special interest in the church at St. Just-in-Roseland. For twenty years my father's cousin Bertie was rector of the parish of St. Just with St. Mawes. As children

St. Keverne

Keverne

St. Keverne

Keverne

St. Kew, St. James and St. Kewa's Church

Kew, St. James and St. Kewa's Church

St. Keyne

Keyne

St. Levan in West Penwith

Levan in West Penwith

St. Levan, St. Levan's Well and Baptistry in West Penwith

Levan's Well and Baptistry in West Penwith

St. Materiana

The two best things about Tintagel are the climb to the top of the 'Island' in search of King Arthur and the parish church of St. Materiana, both well away from the tawdry bustle o

St. Materiana, Tintagel

Materiana, Tintagel

St. Mellion, Landrake, Landulph & Botus Fleming

Mellion, Landrake, Landulph & Botus Fleming

St. Meriadoc's Church

Camborne

St. Meubred Revisited

Meubred Revisited

St. Mewan

Mewan

St. Michael Penkevil

Penkevil

St. Minver, more St. Menefreda's in

Minver, more St. Menefreda's in St. Minver

St. Minver, St. Menefreda's

Minver, St. Menefreda's

St. Nectans

Nectans

St. Neot Church Flower Festival 2017

Flower Festival 2017

St. Newlyn East, St. Newlina's Church

Newlyn East, St. Newlina's Church

St. Nonna and her Holy Well

Nonna and her Holy Well

St. Piran - Patron Saint of Cornish Tin Miners

St. Piran is patron saint of Cornish tin miners. It is thought that he was born in Ireland in around AD480, schooled in South Wales and returned to Ireland to found Clonmacnoise mo

St. Piran's Church - The September 2005 Archaeological Dig

Dig

St. Piran's Oratory -The 2014 Archaeological Dig

Oratory -The 2014 Archaeological Dig

St. Sampson

Sampson

St. Senara

Senara

St. Teath, St. Tetha's Church

Teath, St. Tetha's Church

St. Tudy

Tudy

St. Tudy

Tudy

St. Veep

Veep

St. Wendrona's

Wendrona's

St. Wendrona's Cornish Crosses

Crosses

St. Wenn and Withiel

Wenn and Withiel

St. Winwaloe's Church

Winwaloe's Church, Towednack

St.Breward

Breward, St. Brueredus,

St.Euny

Euny,

Stephen-in-Brannel

St. Stephen, more of a small town than a village is, perhaps, most notable for having a major car dealer, Hawkins, which is Cornwall's largest Peugeot dealer. It is also notable fo

Stithians

I visited Stithians in early September 2017 and was fortunate in having a warm and sunny day which gave me the chance to take some good photographs. I had not previously been in St

Stithians

I visited Stithians in early September 2017 and was fortunate in having a warm and sunny day which gave me the chance to take some good photographs. I had not previously been in St

Stratton near Bude, St. Andrews Church

Of the three churches that I visited on a Saturday towards the end of January 2019, St. Andrew's in Stratton, set on a hilltop away from the centre of town, was, to my surprise, by

Temple Church (St. Catherine's) on Bodmin Moor

In late March 2006 I had just finished a tiring Copper Trail walk on Bodmin Moor. Heading home on the A30 highway, an impulse made me detour briefly to drive through Temple village

Temple Church (St. Catherine's) on Bodmin Moor

I revisited Temple Church in early August 2019. This time I was delighted to find it open so I was able to take some interior photos. The church is essentially very simple and its

The Three Churches of St. Minver Parish

On a hot late August Sunday we did a walk to take a look at the three churches in St. Minver Parish on the Camel estuary. This is Jane's home territory; she was raised in Trebether

Towednack near St. Ives

, St. Winwaloe's Church

Tregaminion

I first encountered the little church of Tregaminion, in the middle of nowhere about 2 miles from Fowey, while walking the Saints way from Fowey to Padstow in early summer 2006. I

Tregony, St. Cuby's Church

I had a busy last Saturday of March 2018, visiting three churches in the direction of Truro: St. Cuby, Tregony; St. Cornelius, Cornelly; and St. Keyne at Kenwyn on the northern out

Tremaine

by coincidence, my first visit in the following September was to another St. Winwaloe's, this one just outside Tremaine, to the north of the road from Davidstow to Launceston. This

Tresillian, Holy Trinity Church

Situated as it is on one angle of a double bend, Holy Trinity Church in Tresillian, on the road from St. Austell to Truro, is very easy to miss. However, if you can find somewhere

Tresillian, Holy Trinity Church

Tresillian, Jacobean Pulpit

Treslothan. St. John's Church

When I walked from Beacon to Clowance on the Land's End Trail I was really surprised by Treslothan hamlet. All very grey and Victorian othick but all most beautifully maintained. T

Trethevy, St. Piran's Church

This Trethevy, just off the road between Tintagel and Boscastle, should not be confused with Trethevy Quoit at Darite south of Minions on Bodmin Moor. Yet, oddly, only a short dist

Trevalga, Saint Petroc

I was first in Trevalga when walking the Cornish Coast Path; that particular walk was a round one from Boscastle along the coast to Trevalga, returning inland. I was much taken wit

Treverbyn, St. Peter the Apostle Church

I visited St. Peter's Treverbyn in mid-October 201`9. At first I thought I was out of luck as the church was locked. However, in the village hall over the road I found churchwarden

Truro Cathedral

I should be ashamed of myself that, except for my friend Robert's marriage to Hayley, I had never been inside the Cathedral in Truro until I visited in early March 2018. Truro's ne

Tuckingmill, All Saints Church

I had hoped to visit All Saints in Tuckingmill on the same day that I was at Penponds and Treslothan. Unfortunately it was firmly locked. For the moment, the best I can do is use a

Tywardreath, St. Andrew's Church

I made three church visits on a dull Saturday at the beginning of September. First call was at Tregaminion Church - closed but I got photos of the two Cornish Crosses - my second w

Veryan, St. Symphorian

I revisited Veryan early in July 2017. I had been there many times before, most particularly when doing a round walk from Portloe, heading first to Veryan, then by Carne Beacon to

Wadebridge, St. Petroc's Church, Egloshayle

Considering that I live in Wadebridge, I am a little disappointed in myself that in sixteen years I have only been inside St. Petroc's church when there have been exhibitions on, s

Warbstow, St. Werburgh's Church

Towards the end of October 2019 I had an outing to the north of the county to visit two churches, St. Mary the Virgin at Week St. Mary and this church, St. Werburgh's in Warbstow.

Warleggan

I visited Warleggan's church on the same day in late July as I visited that at St. Winnow. The locations could not be more different. St. Winnow overlooks the Fowey River and looks

Week St. Mary, Church of St. Mary the Virgin

On the same day late in October that I visited St. Werburgh's in Warbstow I also visited nearby St. Mary the Virgin in Week St. Mary. Where St. Werburgh's is built on an ancient si

Wenn Revisited

Pevsner's current entry for St. Wenna's church is quite brief, less than half a page. One might therefore expect a church of little interest. I didn't find that to be the case but

Werrington, St. Martin of Tours Church

This is about the furthest I have been in search of Cornish churches. Werrington is located on a very minor road a couple of miles north of Launceston and consists of little more t

Wesley's Cottage

One of the most hallowed Methodist sites in Cornwall, Wesley stayed here on several occasions. But there is much more to the story than that. The cottage was owned by stonemason Di

Whitstone Images

Carved oak pulpit

Whitstone, St. Anne's Church

I had originally intended, on the June Saturday when I visited North Tamerton Church, to take a close look at St. Anne's church in Whitstone. Unfortunately it was closed but, when

Widemouth Bay, Church of Our Lady and St. Anne

On a fine sunny Monday in early December Jane and I decided to have an outing to Bude, one of our favourite small towns. On our way there we stopped off at a tiny church, serving W

Winnow

I was first in St. Winnow with Jane in May 2004. Later I returned in the course of a round walk from Lerryn that took in St. Winnow and the Ethy Estate. On neither occasion did I v

Winnow

I revisited St. Winnow in late July 2019, on a day when I also took another look at the church at St. Veep. Once again I was especially struck by the superb collection of bench end

Winwaloe

Church Cove on the Lizard, St. Winwaloe's

Withiel Revisited

The most unusual thing about St. Clement's church is that, as you approach it from the east, it stands high above you on a site that was probably a pre-Christian lann site. The tow

Wyllow

Lanteglos-by-Fowey, St. Wyllow,