Mylor Churchtown
Churchtown
To many this is just Mylor Yacht Harbour, a major yachting and watersports centre where Mylor Creek joins Carrick Roads. With yacht club, large marina, extensive moorings, renowned boatyard and bars and restaurants, that’s understandable. As a result of the Harbour’s success property prices are among Cornwall’s highest and large houses spread along Mylor Creek. However, for others, this is Mylor Churchtown and the main interest is the church of St. Mylor. One of Cornwall’s oldest holy sites, the first church is said to have been founded before AD411 when St. Mylor was martyred here. A charming church, set in a steeply sloping churchyard, there are two Norman doorways but the body of the church is essentially of 13th and 15th centuries. There are remains of a 15th century painted rood screen, an Elizabethan pulpit and a puzzling priest’s chair, reputed to have come from nearby Glasney College, closed when Henry VIII dissolved the monasteries, of 1000 year old Irish bog oak with Norse carving and Tudor panelling. The churchyard, lych gate at the top, small iron gate on the quay, is most enjoyable, Steeply sloping, it contains a free standing bell tower, St. Mylor’s holy well, a Cornish Cross that, if the whole shaft were visible, would stand 17’ 6” high, fine wild flowers, and ancient tombstones, one commemorating the 200 who died when Queen was wrecked on Trefusis Point.
Mylor Village -Walk from Churchtown
More on Mylor Churchtown = St. Melor's Church
Mylor Church: note the yacht masts behind
Mylor Churchtown, more images of St.
More in Churches & Holy Sites
Mylor Churchtown, more images of St. Melor's Church
Melor's Church
Newlyn, St. Peters
I was quite surprised by this church, associating Newlyn essentially with the fishing industry and its associated trades. If you walk up The Coombe, cross the third little bridge over the tiny Coombe River, there in front of you is St. Peters. What I was looking for, a Cornish Cross head formerly in Trereife Park,, was straight in front of me by the south wall. The church is on a relatively grand scale for a small harbour town. It dates from 1859-66 and is very much in the Victorian style of its time. I had really only gone there to photograph the Cornish cross head but was sufficiently impressed by the exterior to take a good look around inside. I was glad I did because the interior was quite a surprise. It is predominantly blue, with blue pews in the nave, a blue chancel ceiling and a blue ceiling in the transept where the organ is. The font has an attractive cover, topped by a dove. The chancel is striking with a reredos of the Last Supper and a crucifixion on a baldachino canopy over altar and reredos. A niche in the south wall has a charming small Madonna and Child statue. The granite pulpit is adorned with serpentine pillars. There is some good stained glass.
Newquay, New Creation Centre
In mid-March 2018 Jane and I visited Newquay together. Secondary purpose was to lunch at the Headland Hotel's excellent Terrace Restaurant, where we enjoyed a good lunch overlooking Fistral Beach - and made a booking for Jane's 80th celebrations in May. Primary purpose was to visit the Parish Church of St. Michael but yet again it was closed, despite being supposed to be open on Wednesday mornings. However we made up for that by visiting the Newquay Christian Centre on Seymour Avenue. This is an Elim ‘Foursquare Gospel Alliance’ church, part of the Elim Pentecostal Church. This proved to be very different from the usual Anglican church: we were greeted by a friendly, informative but in no way pushy lady and were immediately offered coffee and cakes. The church has a very open and welcoming feeling. The first two things to strike us were the lovely collection of fabrics on the seats and the striking blueness of the chancel. Then, looking around, we were very much taken by the contemporary stained glass which included a watermill and a carpenter's tools. The barrel-vaulted wooden ceiling is notable, too, very Cornish in style. Seating in the foyer features colourful cushions. A charming, welcoming place.