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 I visited in mid-March 2019. I parked in the public car park (handy free toilets) to the north side of the church and entered the churchyard from the north-west corner. The three-stage tower is exceptionally fine and topped with conical pinnacles. On heading round to the south porch, the first thing I noticed was a small Cornish Cross to the left of the porch. Then, propped against the left-hand side of the porch, a slate bearing a welcome message. The porch itself has a wagon roof and a substantial double door to the body of the church. Much of the church is of the 14th and 15th centuries, though the north arcade may be late 13th century. Unusually the north arcade is of green Polyphant stone. There is a squint between the north aisle and the chancel. The fine chancel arch is of the late 19th century with a wooden arch and a wagon roof with angel corbels; this was part of an early 20th century restoration by H Fellowes Prynne. Also the result of Prynne's restoration are the altar front, reredos, rood and parclose screens, the choir stalls and bench ends. The elaborately decorated 1896 pulpit is by Harry Hems of Exeter. A large Royal Arms is dated 1708. Stained glass is mostly early 20th century, much of it by Clayton and Bell. Facing you as you enter is a fine massive slate chest tomb of Robert Langford, of 1624. There are some handsome buildings opposite the north-west corner of the churchyard, the Vicarage and a County Police Station of 1859.
Cornish Cross by Porch
St. Cleer, St. Clair's Church
Connock Memorial
Photographs
More in Churches & Holy Sites
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 that morning, the church was open. This is a small church in a fairly remote location and you have to wonder where the congregation comes from. It is also a delightful church; its construction began in 1276 and much of what you see is essentially of around that time. The first things you notice are beside the porch: a crude Cornish Four-hole Cross, brought from a nearby hedge, and two boot-scrapers, not quit a pair. Near the tower is the base of another cross. On the way in note the roof of the porch, a wagon roof with carved bosses. Inside, there is some good stained glass, remains of a rood screen incorporated in the altar, a low-relief slate monument to William Glannel, and several brasses. In the chancel are a couple of good wooden chairs and the font is octagonal and covered with carved panels. The attractive wooden pulpit is nicely carved.
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. Little remains of the original 12th century church as it was largely rebuilt in the 15th and early 16th centuries with an additional north chapel known as the Bosahan Aisle for the local family of that name. Among the furnishings are a small section of rood screen with floral carving, a chest with some fine finely carved 16th century panels and an elaborately carved pulpit. There are some brasses, of the Gerveys and Pendarves families. A wall monument is to Jane Penticost, with another to William Nichols. In the graveyard on the south-east side is a low Cornish Cross. On the north-west side are remains of two cross shafts. A much better Cornish Cross is to be found at Trevease Farm, 2 1/2 miles to the north-west. Also on the north side of the churchyard is a Church Room of around 1700.