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. First port of call was Jacobstow, where Frankie Franklyn had kindly arranged for the church to be open. I had been to Jacobstow previously, in May 2017, but had taken few photos then. This time I must have photographed just about everything in and out of the church, delightfully situated in a hollow in its own little Churchtown. When I was there snowdrops proliferated in the south-east corner of the churchyard and daffodils were almost ready to bloom. The striking late 15th century three stage tower has octagonal turrets and crocketed pinnacles. You enter the south porch to be greeted by a slate floor and a substantial door with en empty statue niche above it. The body of the church is probably late 14th or early 15th century and consists of nave and north and south aisles. The chancel was rebuilt in 1886 by Otho Peter of Launceston and complements the light and dignified interior. The nave ceiling is of closely spaced curved wooden rafters; the aisle ceilings are of the Cornish wagon type. In the quire simple wooden benches face each other across a tiled floor. The chancel floor is tiled, patterned and colourful. There are two altars; the High Altar is an Elizabethan communion table, the chancel chapel has a stone table with consecration crosses. Either side of the chancel east window are paintings, probably of the late 19th or early 20th century. On the east wall of the chancel is a good slate memorial to Susannah and Mary Clerk. The north door dates from the 15th century. The font is Norman and is a good example of the Altarnun type with a face at each corner. The pulpit stands on a white stone base and is made up from 16th century bench ends. A list of rectors begins in 1270.

Jacobstow Church, morning sunlight

Jacobstow Porch

Jacobstow elaborate carved Pulpit