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
Helland Font
Helland Altar & Reredos
Helland Pulpit
Photographs
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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 a Cornish church, not medieval but largely Georgian. The reason for this was not a matter of taste but was the result of lightning which in 1727 virtually destroyed the whole church, leaving only a 15th century gable cross intact. Rebuilding was completed in 1761 by architect Thomas Edwards, who was also responsible for a couple of great country houses, Trelowarren and Trewithen. Restoration and extension of the Edwards church which was completed in 1838 by George Wightwick included the chancel, north chapel and south porch. Pevsner describes the result as "a typical classical mid-Georgian town church" and, while it is so different from the usual medieval Cornish church, I enjoyed it for what it is. There are two entrances to the churchyard: the one nearest the (often inadequate) parking offers an easy but roundabout route to the church entrance; the other, up steep steps from Church Street, takes you more directly to the porch, unusually shaped, two storey in height with a large window in the upper storey. The generous proportions of the porch are echoed inside the rectangular aisleless nave with its high strap-work ceiling. At the west end is a gallery with bench seating. Stained glass in the East window of the chancel depicts the annual Helston Floral Dance. Priest's Chair and Litany Desk are of elaborately carved (I presume) light oak. In the North Chapel are 1602 brasses to the Bougins family. An unusual font, on a elaborate base, is of Beer stone with a Serpentine shaft. A marble memorial commemorates George Simon Borlase, probably of the famouse West Penwith family. Over the south door is a Transfiguration of painted enamel. In the churchyard, near the porch, is a new marble memorial to local man Henry Trengrouse who invented the "Rocket" life-saving apparatus, precursor of the breeches buoy. There are unusual churchyard memorials of cast iron (one commemorates just "Harry") and, on a Penberthy grave, a stone Cornish Cross has been fixed.
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 from the churchyard are to the former mining village nestling below and across to densely wooded hills. The church, completed by John Hayward in 1850 is in the Early English Gothic style, a firm favourite of Victorian architects. So impressed was John Betjeman by the architecture that he was convinced it was actually by G E Street. As you enter, note the colourful door with its elaborate ironwork and gothic stone arch surround. Internally the church is essentially simple. The chancel is at a higher level than the nave and reached by four steps. There is a two-centred chancel arch. The font is 14th century and believed to be from St. Winnow; its cover is Victorian. The pulpit is of simple white stone; the lectern is of elaborately carved oak. Stained glass was redesigned in 2007.
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 early bargain two bacon rolls for �4, before heading for Hessenford. Had I not stopped at Kernow Mill, I would not have taken the lane by Bake Lane End and would have missed an impressive roadside Cornish Cross, shown neither on OS108 nor on Cornwall Council's Mapping Website. A church, St. Anne's Chapel, had been founded in Hessenford in the 15th century but this was closed in the Reformation in 1539. A new church was built in 1833 and extended in 1855. Architect was the ubiquitous J P St. Aubyn and the church is very much in his simple Early English Gothic style. The boot scrapers outside the porch are also clearly his. Inside is fairly simple: nave and two aisles with a raised chancel. Choir stalls are of oak. Behind the cloth covered altar is a reredos with mosaic inlay. Stained glass is by St. Aubyn's favourites, Clayton & Bell. The pulpit is of Caen stone and alabaster and features four carved figures in recessed arches and small columns of serpentine. The lectern is of carved oak with a carved statue of St. Joseph.