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 feature of St. Martin's is the way it stands out on its hill, south of the town centre. The next thing that strikes you is how ugly the church is on the outside, its dark stone repelling rather than enticing. Before entering do first look for the two Cornich Crosses in the churchyard: one you pass on your way from the south lych gate to the church entrance in a two-storey height porch, the other is in the graveyard on the south east side of the church. What I missed was the Consecration Crosses on the outer waslls of the north and south aisles, apparently unique in Cornwall. Except for services the church is normally locked tight so I was fortunate to arrive at the same time as a churchwarden, who not only allowed me in but also provided some helpful information, including the fact that St. Martin's is Cornwall's second largest parish church after St. Petroc's in Bodmin. The interior has a lofty and airy feel though the chancel, separated by a chancel arch, is lower than the nave. With one exception, the east window, all chancel windows are original Perpendicular. A fragment of medieval glass is displayed in a niche in the south aisle. The plain font is probably 16th century; its cover, probably Victorian, is very elaborate. In the chancel both altar and reredos are elaborate, the latter quite colourful. A royal coat of arms is of George II. The elaborate organ, its pipes colourful, is topped by a trumpeter. A nicely carved lectern stands by the quire parclose screen. The octagonal pulpit, made in 1646 by Peter Short, is beautifully carved.
Churchyard Cornish Cross
St. Martin's Church, Liskeard
Liskeard Reredos
Photographs
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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, you are so busy looking for traffic approaching the bridge that you probably don't even spot the church. A great pity because it is a delight and well worth an extended visit. Attractive from the outside, with its tower,.porch, nave, aisle and small south chapel, it is the inside which really impresses. Most striking are the two colourful and highly detailed rood screens. Altar, reredos and stained glass in a south window also impress and there are some fine carved bench ends - one topped by a pheasant - good memorials and an unusually simple clock. A colourful royal coat of arms is set into the floor and a slate wall plaque lists rectors and patrons of "St. Petroc Minor of Nansfounteyn, Little Petherick" Despite Pevsner, I believe thet Little Petherick church is well worth going out of your way for. Or, if you are walking the Saints Way, it is handily right alongside the first stage 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. Martin's church is dedicated to St. Keyne and St. Martin. The south gate is simple but attractive. The doorway from the porch is late Norman zig-zag. The church is probably basically 13th century and the tower 14th and 15th. Inside, the unusual font is decorated with a tree of life. Altar rails are probably early 17th century as is the parclose screen. Monuments include a tomb chest of 1590 and a wall tablet of 1667 to Walter Langdon and his wife. There are some carved bench ends, probably Victorian; original bench ends seem to have been used in making one screen, the other elaborately carved screen is presumably Victorian. There is some William Morris glass. In the graveyard is a Cornish Cross of dubious authenticity. Morval church is dedicated to St. Wenna. Seen from the road it is low but most attractive, standing, as does the house to which it belonged, in a small landscaped park and with rhododendrons in the churchyard. Inside is an octagonal 13th century font, a seventeenth century alms box and a 1637 monument to Walter Coode. More Looe, St. Martin and Morval.
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, at that time, I had not yet developed an interest in Cornwall's churches so I passed by, lingering only for a photograph of what I then wrongly thought was Ludgvan's only Cornish Cross. I eventually returned at the very end of August 2019 for a thorough look at the church and first discovered that there were, in fact, three crosses. After the crosses, the first thing to note is the porch. This has an unusual four-light window in its east side and a wagon roof with carved wooden bosses. Apart from the porch and the tower, there is little that is original as the church was heavily restored in 1912 by H J Wadling, an associate of J. P. St. Aubyn. The result is an unexpectedly severe interior. The font is a 19th century copy of a Norman design. There are monuments and memorials to John South and family, 1636; to Christopher Borlase, 1749; to antiquarian William Borlase who was rector here 1720 to 1772; and to the parents of Sir Humphrey Davy who invented the miner's safety lamp. Quire stalls are surprisingly colourfully decorated.