North Hill, St. Terney's Church

In the middle of March 2019 I visited two churches in the vicinity of Bobmin Moor: St. Clair's in St. Cleer and St. Terney's in North Hill, some 6 miles north-west of Launceston. Although we didn't visit the church at the time, Jane and I have pleasant memories of a tough Mark Camp walk we did from North Hill in 2004, taking in the (then) wobbly bridge over the River Lynher, North Hill itself and Hawkstor Downs, returning by a lower route including Castick Farm. Pevsner describes St. Terney's as "one of Cornwall's most enjoyable churches" and I have no dispute with that. From a grassy car park, a short walk leads to the west end of the church and its impressive three-stage battlemented tower with crocketed pinnacles. Unusually, there is a large gothic window in the west face of the tower. Head round to the south side of the church and you are faced with a charming, if somewhat tattered, sundial. Inside, the porch has a surprisingly elaborate wagon roof with carved bosses. Inside the church, dating mostly from the 15th century, it is airy and spacious. The roof theme continues with wagon roofs to nave and aisles. The fine chancel roof, also wagon in style, is ribbed and painted; below are paintings of a miner and a fisherman. The floor is colourfully tiled. There is an Easter Sepulchre in the north wall of the chancel. Communion rails date from 1685. Slightly surprisingly, there are few carved bench ends. A 1621 brass commemorates Leonard Yeo. A surprisingly simple altar has behind it a marble reredos. A window in the north wall has three small colourful panels. The pulpit features linenfold paneling. An elaborate and impressive wall memorial is dedicated to members of the Spoure family of local Trebartha.

Spoure Memorial

St. Terney's Church Tower

Carved Bench Ends

North