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. Gwinear's church is slightly confusing architecturally in that, from the east, is appears to have nave and three isles; in fact the third aisle is a chapel, the abbreviated Arundell Aisle, dedicated to a local family. Slightly srprisingly for a Cornish church, there at first appear to be no bench ends. In fact there are but not on the ends of pews. Instead these have been utilised to construct the pulpit, lectern and kneeling desk. Part of the 15th century screen survives, of very dark oak and looking not unlike the face of a Jacobean chest. In the south aisle is an attractive modern subsidiary altar. The early 18th century font is deliberately designed to look Norman, with unusual carvings, including a figure, a hand and a face. The capital of one of the arcade columns exibits a carving of what is said to be a deer but looks more like a rabbit. On the window sill near the font is an unexpected Cornish Cross Head. More Cornish Crosses may bee seen in the churchyard, one short cross, one taller cross and a cross head rather hidden in the grass at the east end of the church. So I was pleasantly surprised to find, altogether four Cornish Crosses or Crossheads.
Short Cornish Cross
Gwinear Church from the South-east
Tall Cornish Cross
Photographs
More in Churches & Holy Sites
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 later in date. Nor is it Gwithian's original church. As with St.Piran's church on Piran Sands, there was an early Christian Oratory in the dunes. This was excavated in the 19th century but again left to nature and has disappeared beneath the sand. The present church was built in 1866 and incorporates parts of the earlier structure. There is an unusual square font, on pillars of blue (perhaps Catacleuse) stone, with carvings of a snake, a rosette and a cross inset. There is little else of special note but there is a very fine collection of embroidered kneelers. Just up the road is the last remaining thatched chapel in Cornwall. A deed of 1771 names John Wesley as 'Protector of the Religious Society.'. The present chapel built in 1810. The Society ceased in 1995, but the chapel was rescued from dereliction in 1999 and reopened for worship. There is a display of documents and photographs. The chapel is open Easter to October; occasional Sunday evening services are held.
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 elevated position above Hayle Terrace, the main road through Hayle. It was one of the last works of J H Sedding, completed in 1888. Pevsner says "its strong verticality and satisfying massing bestow an architectural benediction on the whole town". Because it is surrounded by other buildings, the most satisfying overall view is to be had from the other side of Copperhouse Pool. The stone comes in a variety of colours and shades of brown and green. A hexagonal tower at the north-east corner terminates in a stubby spire and features a tall stair turret. Inside, with its nave and two aisles, has a lofty and spacious feeling. A little surprisingly, much interior stonework has been painted white but that does rather add to the feeling of spaciousness. The chancel is striking for its fenestration: two pairs of three lights topped by a large roundel. Alongside it, on its north side, stairs lead up to an open musicians gallery, overlooking the chancel. The altar is cloth covered, behind it a colourful but primitive reredos. The font is in the Norman style and of Polyphant stone. There is a god variety of stained glass, some in lancets, some rectangular.
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 church was originally cruciform, a south aisle added in the 16th century and a north transept in the 17th century. However, it was substantially rebuilt, like so many Cornish churches, by J P St. Aubyn in the late 19th century. Before entering the church, do look back at charming Churchtown Cottages, alongside which is an attractive, but roofless, lych gate, unusually with a pair of white-painted metal gates. The church consists of tower, nave, south aisle and a north transept. I assume that this was always a relatively poor parish as there is not much inside of much interest. The font has a 13th century bowl on a later stem. There are fragments of medieval glass in the east window of the south aisle. Of more interest, really, is early 15th century Helland Bridge over the River Allen, some attractive buildings nearby, including the old Mill House, and Paul Jackson's Pottery in Riversmead on the south-east side of the bridge